Crucifixion fever saves police jobs in Philippines

Independent
By Genevieve Roberts
26 March 2005


Errant Filipino policemen atoned for their sins yesterday by flagellating themselves and volunteering to be crucified. Nineteen policemen who were facing dismissal or suspension took part in the Lenten Rites, a bloody re-enactment of Jesus Christ's final hours, in order to save their jobs.

Wearing crowns of ropes and leaves and struggling under the weight of wooden crosses, they trudged for nearly two miles through San Fernando city, 25 miles north of Manila. Four men volunteered to whip their backs to show repentance, while one police superintendent was strapped to the cross.

Officers who had neglected their duty were told that they could keep their jobs if they took part in the Lenten Rites to show repentance for their sins.

Those absent without leave for a short period or who missed guard duty escaped disciplinary measures by carrying the cross, while those who were absent for 100 days or more had to volunteer for crucifixion.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/story.jsp?story=623775

I realize they are saving their jobs, but I'd like to know what they did to get told they were going to be fired. If America is any indicator they had to be hiding mass graves.

This "Rite" or whatever you want to call it is full of Blood. The military told us to stay away.

Police Captain said, "I can't believe they fell for that crucifix joke....they'll believe anything."

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Enough to know that religions having nothing to do with Christianity had these too - including Eastern, Incan, and oh so many more north and south american indian traditional beliefs.

You gotta love - "Were called by the names of Light-bringer, Healer, Mediator, Savior, Deliverer"

That even handles medicin men/women, villiage wisement, as well as ALL religions that ever existed.

If you take an anthropology class you may have a better understanding for evolving human belief and ruling systems(ie. often villiages do look up to the wisest, the winter equinox and renewing beliefs and rituals, etc.)

(openly), then it's verboten?

Tell me how this is any different? Some drink Communion wine, some drink Kool-Aid...

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This is a clear demonstration of how sick cult of personality can be. Sure screw off on your job, miss 100 days but get crucified (volutarily) and you get to stay.

And yes, the Phillippines is a very poor area. where else does religion grow so well? Can you tell me the fastest growing regions for the various Christian sects? I can tell you: the poorest often least educated areas of the world.

Where else would you get people to agree to such nonsense?

Julie

America is the wealthiest nation on earth and has a God believing majority. (no, it's not just the Republicans.)

They have incredible closed minds and want to lump a group of people(Christians) all into one idiot ideal. Oh, and they're often run by bigotry.

Christianity of course is a very broad spectrum, with a whole lot believing in evolution, and many not believing in many myths that surround it. The Virgin Mary is not a belief required to be Christian and people like me, who believe in the book of Q, can handle the Virgin, and Christmas as metaphorical stories added between the 4th and 6th centuries when creating histories for significant historical people was common.

Of course there are nearly as many different Christian beliefs as their are Christians. But, you'd never know it from some athiests.

I'm just glad there are also many different athiests and some are factual(don't lump Christians and their beliefs all into one catagory) as well as can handle people holding different beliefs. Some even realize chosing not to believe in gods, is a belief.

that are saying, "Hmmm... now there's an idea. We could even put signs on the crosses that say 'Sponsored by XYZ Corporation. Here to serve you.'"