Controversial Tradition Continues: Filipinos Nailed to Crosses Despite Church Opposition.

Despite objections from the Catholic church, at least 12 Filipinos will be nailed to crosses in the farming village of San Pedro Cutud to reenact Jesus Christ's suffering in a Good Friday tradition that draws huge crowds of devotees and tourists. The real-life crucifixions were resuming after a three-year pause due to the coronavirus pandemic. The gruesome spectacle reflects the Philippines' unique brand of Catholicism, which merges church traditions with folk superstitions. Many of the mostly impoverished penitents undergo the ritual to atone for sins, pray for the sick or for a better life, and give thanks for miracles.