Philippines People Voluntarily Crucified... WTF

[bmwguy]

Full article available here:

CNN Article Here

SAN PEDRO CUTUD, Philippines (AP) -- At least 11 Filipino devotees were nailed to the cross in two Philippine villages during annual Good Friday re-enactments of Jesus Christ's final hours, organizers said.

The Lenten ritual is opposed by religious leaders in the Philippines -- Southeast Asia's largest predominantly Roman Catholic nation -- but it has persisted to become one of the country's most-awaited summer attractions in San Pedro Cutud village, in San Fernando city about 70 kilometers (45 miles) north of Manila.

The Roman Catholic devotees were crucified in batches, their palms and feet attached to wooden crosses with 10-centimeter (four-inch) nails soaked in alcohol to prevent infection, to repent sins, pray for a sick relative or fulfill a vow, organizers said.

Nine devotees underwent the ritual in San Pedro Cutud, including Ruben Enaje, a 45-year-old commercial sign maker, who was nailed to the cross for the 20th time.

Enaje has said it is his way of thanking God after he miraculously survived a fall from a building when he was a construction worker.

In the farming village of Kapitangan, 45 kilometers (28 miles) north of Manila, two men wearing long curly wigs and tin crowns were nailed to the cross near the village chapel. About 1,000 local and foreign devotees and spectators watched.

San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez said more than 400 police and volunteer guards were deployed around San Pedro Cutud, where spectators and devotees gather yearly for the event. An estimated 15,000 people turned out on Friday.

The Czech ambassador was among people who traveled to San Pedro Cutud to witness the rites on a dusty mound in an open field in the farming village.

British national Dominic Diamond earlier told GMA television that he planned to join the annual rite, hoping to find his lost faith in God. He said he had been suffering from insomnia and would go three or four days at a time without sleep. Diamond said he prayed to God to be released from the condition, but that it has persisted.

"So I thought this was such a simple thing to ask and he could not do it," Diamond added, explaining his waning faith. But when he heard about the crucifixions in San Pedro Cutud, he said he realized "these people were the opposite thing, people who were so sure in their faiths."

But after carrying his cross from the village center, he backed out when it came time for the nails to go into his flesh, weeping as he pressed his head to the cross and prayed.

A spokesman for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines cautioned that the traditions of flagellation and crucifixion during Holy Week trace their roots to animism and are not approved by the church.

"They think that when they do that they will receive blessings for the coming year. That is not a Christian idea," Monsignor Pedro Quitorio said. "If you have Christ in you, that's enough blessing. You don't need to duplicate what he did on the cross."

"I also do not encourage it, but what can I do, it is part of their deep religious conviction, part of their penance," Rodriguez said.







More pictures can be found here, but some are graphic so you have been warned:

http://www.travelphotographer.com/ph...es_sanfernando

[jayisthebest88]

look at all those flip jews.....!!!!!


thats messed up man....

[Evil Techie]

this is wrong...

these ppl are turning religion into a cult

[biggunstwo]

Kids, whats the moral of the story??

Dont smoke crack.

[masterhapposai]

Nine devotees underwent the ritual in San Pedro Cutud, including Ruben Enaje, a 45-year-old commercial sign maker, who was nailed to the cross for the 20th time.

common stuff, surprised you guys didn't know

Everyone has their own style of faith around the world, and you'll see many strange things.

I hope people understand that if they don't like a christian it has nothing to do with the religion itself.

[B40]

common stuff, surprised you guys didn't know

Everyone has their own style of faith around the world, and you'll see many strange things.

I hope people understand that if they don't like a christian it has nothing to do with the religion itself.

yup they do this every year... nothing new or shocking to me

[divx]

religions are evil.

(yeah i know, i'm gona be flamed, yet again)

[ronin893]

Nine devotees underwent the ritual in San Pedro Cutud, including Ruben Enaje, a 45-year-old commercial sign maker, who was nailed to the cross for the 20th time.

Yeah, but I bet they re-used the same holes.

[x86asm]

religions are evil.

(yeah i know, i'm gona be flamed, yet again)

lol, you like to tempt pandora's box dont you?

[CHINAdeals]

lol, you like to tempt pandora's box dont you?

seriously..as if there aren't enough ppl talking about u lol

this is crazy

[FastFokker]

Religions aren't evil, the people who own them are evil!

[divx]

lol, you like to tempt pandora's box dont you?

yeah, that's being discussed to death already, don't feel like starting it up again, so i will just leave at that.

[divx]

seriously..as if there aren't enough ppl talking about u lol

this is crazy

oh chill man, i can be religious at time.

[x86asm]

Religions aren't evil, the people who own them are evil!

People own religions? Isn't that blasphemous?!

[felix]

ouch!