Brit Backs Out of Crucifixion

In a story headlined "His British bravado failed him in crucifixion stunt," The Foreign Post, a free weekly paper aimed at Manila expats, reports of a British newspaper columnist who took part in the Good Friday rituals I wrote about a week ago. A would-be British participant, the report says, "chickened out to the jeers of almost 10,000 spectators."

Seven Filipinos had themselves crucified in the bloody imitation of the Passion of Jesus Christ in the town of San Fernando, an annual tradition that has become a macabre tourist attraction.

Briton Dominic Diamond joined the Filipinos in carrying a cross to the hill in the town north of Manila, but when it was his time to be nailed up, he merely knelt down and prayed for 10 minutes.

After praying, the story continues, he explained his actions to the group leader, "and then left the scene in an ambulance to the jeers of the watching Filipinos."

Of course, Diamond was not available for comment for the story, as he apparently sold his story to a British TV station. A check of Google News turned up nothing else about Diamond's stunt.

I can't really blame him -- even what we saw looked to be excruciating, and there were no nails involved. I cannot being to imagine what it would be like to be crucified.