Australian and 29 Filipinos Crucified On Good Friday  

I think that is a very sad reflection on some people's idea of religion. The people who undergo this ordeal are, I believe, under a serious misapprehension of what religion (as a whole) and Christianity (in particular) is about; the people who allow it to happen can be summed up by the paragraph at the end of the article, which says:

"Critics say the event has become commercialized and is used for money-making rather than an expression of faith.

Town councillor Jimmy Lazatin, an organizer of the event, said that the crucifixions were a way of attracting tourists who bought hats, sunglasses, soft drinks, snacks and shirts from vendors who converged at the site."

I seriously think that the Pope should condemn it and that it should be forbidden by law.

I lived my whole life in Pampanga (except for the two years working abroad)... but never witnes that nailing of the cross thing... i think in the past it was much more solemn since it was not as commercialized as it is today...

Government officials would do everything they can to exploit unique traditions that we have in order to attract tourist... so the essence of the tradition is like 95% gone...

I think the Catholic church already issued a statement discouraging people from doing this... but tradition is tradition... and this will continue on for a very long time...

i think that doing such things is senseless and useless. what do they want to prove by doing such an act? are they trying to compete christ?

I really don't see anything wrong with these practices and I think it's a way for these people to really try to atone for the sins that they have done. Also, maybe these people feel that they really want to feel the suffering of our Lord by undergoing the same path.

That many? Wow! In spite of the discouragements aired by some priests, the number went triple this year.

I doubt that those who were crucified did it for financial compensation. If not all, most of them are there for their belief and conviction that this is one way of following Christ. I don't think they have anything to say or in cohorts with the Department of Tourism or the local government for the promotion of their activity.

Base on my opinion, people, specifically us, catholic, should not be crucified. Why? Because God didn't wish us to be. When He's only son, Jesus, has been crucified, did God felt happy about that? even Jesus was hurt and I believe that during that time He also wish that those people didn't done it to him. God wanted us to repent but not in this way. If our hands and legs are injured, how can we repent? I think the best way to repent is to sincerely be sorry for all the wrong things you've done and as much as possible help the needy. If I were to choose, I'd rather help these people who needed my aid with my well body than be hurt and became helpless myself. :)

why do they really need to get their hands nailed? i mean it will gonna hurt physically. I've seen this guy who did that before and now he's a millionaire. What is this? Is this really about religion or keeping lots of money?

Whatever floats your boat I guess.

However I think these people are misguided. From what I have read about the personality of Jesus in the bible he would be furious with this spectacle in his name. He would clean the moneychangers out of the temple so to speak.

I won't judge them of what they did but then again, it is just not right.. I think. Especially some news that I heard that people are making money out of it... I mean, what happen to faith. Hope.... Also, some people are doing this just to be famous. There is a former BOLD star who just had her hands pierced by real nails during a shoot of her movie... And insisting that she's doing it to for the faith. That is simply CRAZY.......... She just want some publication/advertisement for her movie... I can say that this foreigner guy is just too adventurous. Maybe Big Brother is watching him...

There are lots of reasons why they do such acts. It could be for attention, tradition, forgiveness or business. Maybe for the seasoned "performer" it could be fanaticism for Christinism/Catholicism. They may be thinking that the act brings them closer to God. It's quite painful and it reminds me of the albino (Silas?) in Da Vinci Code when he would go on extremes but his faith couldn't be questioned.