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Title: Filipino devotees nailed to cross Post by: Shammu on April 06, 2007, 10:22:44 PM Filipino devotees nailed to cross
By JOEAL CALUPITAN, Associated Press Writer Fri Apr 6, 4:00 AM ET SAN PEDRO CUTUD, Philippines - Seven devotees were nailed to crosses on Good Friday in a northern Philippine village where the rites drew thousands of tourists and spectators. 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 Fernando City's San Pedro Cutud village. The devotees' palms and feet were attached to wooden crosses with 4-inch nails soaked in alcohol to prevent infection after a nearly mile-long walk to the mound, each carrying a wooden cross on their backs. Among the yearly penitents in San Pedro Cutud was Ruben Enaje, a 46-year-old commercial sign maker who was nailed to the cross for the 21st time on Friday. Earlier in the day in the same village, dozens of half-naked men hit their bloodied backs with bamboo sticks dangling from a rope in a flagellation rite meant to atone for sins. More than 100 foreign tourists flocked to this year's Good Friday rites, with many of them seated on a stage at the side of the mound. "They take this religion to the extreme," observed Gomas de Miguel, a tourist from Spain. "In Spain, we say we are Catholics but we don't do this anymore I think." "It's not my belief, but I know that they are sincere in what they are doing so I respect it," said American tourist Dennis Smith. Filipino devotees nailed to cross (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070406/ap_on_re/philippines_crucifixion_1) |