Foreigners can no longer be crucified in Pampanga

Foreigners can still watch, but can no longer join in. Local officials of a Pampanga village have banned foreigners this year from participating in its reenactment of Christ’s crucifixion every Good Friday to keep the ritual’s “solemnity," although the Catholic Church has frowned upon the Lenten practice itself. San Pedro Cutud, located in the outskirts of the provincial capital San Fernando City, announced the ban in an article posted on the Union of Catholic Asian News web site on Friday. Organized by San Pedro’s local officials, the yearly “Cutud" is participated by Filipino Catholics who see it as a form of penance. In recent years, the practice has also attracted foreign tourists (See: Filipino, Australian devotees nailed to cross) City Councilor Jimmy Lazatin explained, however, that a tourist “had made fun of the rites" last year, hence the ban.
No Church sanction The Catholic Church, however, has expressed dismay over the practice. “The Cutud is a tourist activity drawing thousands of people yearly but does nothing for the teachings of the Church," said Auxiliary Bishop Pablo David. “The archdiocese tolerates the Cutud, but would rather it not take place. It is folk religiosity but not one we favor at all," David added. The San Fernando bishop also ignored the participation of foreigners in the practice, saying “the ceremony is not good for anyone." “Whether or not foreigners take part in the ceremony is no concern to us [diocesan Church officials]," he added. Father Arnulfo Serrano, parish priest of Santo Niño parish near San Pedro, also said that his parish has no interest in the “Cutud." “The Church does not sanction these private pious acts, and parishioners know it," Serrano said, adding that some of his parishioners who join the scourging on Holy Thursday “cover their faces so we would not recognize them." Serrano added that they focus on liturgical celebrations of the Church instead. Dakit Kordero as alternative “Some of our practices for Lent and Holy Week have a rich tradition here, such as Dakit Kordero," Father Serrano pointed out. The “Dakit Kordero" is a reenactment of the Last Supper. “We use all the official rites of the Church as well and do not need the Cutud," the parish priest said. According to a brief note posted on the official website of the City of San Fernando, the “Cutud" started with the staging of the play Via Crusis (“Way of the Cross"), a local version of the Passion of the Christ, in 1955. It was only in 1962, however, that public crucifixion was started by a faith healer named Artemio Anoza, who volunteered to be crucified, believing that this would help him realize his dream of becoming a religious leader and a better healer. Predominantly Catholic Philippines observes a diverse range of folk-religious practices during Holy Week or the entire Lenten season. This year, Good Friday falls on April 2.—JV, GMANews.TV