Catholics in the Philippines nailed to crosses for Good Friday
While the ritual is frowned on by church authorities, the voluntary crucifixions in villages north of the capital Manila are one of the most extreme displays of religious devotion in Asia's largest Roman Catholic state.
Other penitants whipped their backs and chanted prayers as dozens of them mixed faith with gory rituals to mark the church calendar's most sombre day at Easter.
Monsignor Pedro Quitorio, spokesman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, said the church discourages such rituals because the penitents were expecting rewards for hurting themselves....
Dr. Alan Cairns | 8/3/2009
