This, after their former parish priest categorically debunked their claims of official Catholic hierarchy-issued exemption from the prescribed Good Friday fasting and abstinence..
Fr. Alvin Manalang, who had been San Pedro Cutud parish priest from 1997 to 2001, insisted that the Catholic Church has never issued any declaration of such exemption which the village folk have always cited to justify the fiesta food fare for the thousands of visitors and tourists who flock to their barangay every Good Friday to witness actual crucifixions on a makeshift Golgotha.
Since the 1970’s, San Pedro Cutud folk have been commemorating Good Friday with fiesta atmosphere fuelled by the huge presence of curious tourists, including international media folk and friends and relatives, wanting to see the crucifixions that started way back in the village in 1963 as highlight of the Via Crucis or the Way of the Cross.
The Canon law of the Catholic church requires Catholics of age to practice abstinence or abstention from something, traditionally meat dishes, on Ash Wednesdays and all Fridays throughout the Lenten season. It valso requires fasting for those aged between 18 to 59 to eat only one full meal on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Asked whether mortal sins are committed by San Pedro Cutud Catholics who have been defying these Church prescriptions, Fr. Manalang, however, refused to comment. “I would rather that the issue be addressed by higher Church authorities,” he said.
The actual fiesta of San Pedro Cutud is June 29, feast of their patron St. Peter.
This, even as Fr. Manalang also sought more understanding of penitents who resort to bloody crucifixions and flagellations during Holy Week in Pampanga and elsewhere.
“It’s not really for us to fathom their deep intents as only God can know this for sure,” he said, but added that he would
rather have the penitents resort to the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession.
He lamented that during his stint as parish priest of San Pedro Cutud, none of the regular Kristo penitents who up to now undergo crucifixions there ever went to him for confession.
But he noted that during the recent visit of Pope Francis to Manila, he saw among the tens of thousands of welcomers Ruben Enaje, who again underwent crucifixion for the 29th year in San Pedro Cutud last Good Friday.
Enaje said that his crucifixion vow was initially to thank God for sparing his life during a bad fall while he was painting a house 29 years ago. Later, it was also to thank God for the healing of a family member.
Fr. Manalang is now parish priest of San Lorenzo Ruiz based in Barangay Dau in Mabalacat City where he has initiated strict observance of Lenten fasting and abstinence.
In Barangay Lakandula which is part of his parish, his efforts to bring back people to their Catholic faith has been described as “miraculous.”
