Deaths and Injuries among Those Trying to Touch Jesus Statue

Two died and a thousand sought medical attention in the commotion surrounding the worship of a Roman Catholic statue of Jesus in the Philippines. Five million barefoot people performing penance flooded the streets as the statue was paraded through Manila preceding the visit of Pope Francis. The frenzied crowds want to touch the statue and rub cloths on it, in the pagan belief that they can experience the transfer of blessings and miracles from a dead idol. The popular 17th-century statue, which depicts a dark-complexioned, long-haired, haloed Jesus carrying a cross, was approved for veneration in 1650 by Pope Innocent X. In 1880, Pope Pius VII gave the statue a papal blessing and granted plenary indulgence for those who pray before it. It is brought out for public veneration three times a year: New Year’s Day, January 9, which is the statue’s Feast procession, and Good Friday. It is exactly the type of thing that Hindus do, hoping for blessing and good luck from their idols. Last year, a new routine was begun for the Black Nazarene. The Jesus statue stopped at the Basilica Minore de San Sebastián where a Mary statue (Our Lady of Mount Carmel) was brought out and held up by priests to “see” and “meet” the Black Nazarene. As the Jesus statue is transported from the basilica, the priests slowly turn the Mary statue so that it “watches” the Black Nazarene depart (Ricky Velasco, Doctor Love radio show, DZMM 630, Manila, Jan. 9, 2014). This is supposed to re-enact the mythical fourth Station of the Cross in Jerusalem, where Jesus allegedly met Mary on His way to the cross. Of course, no Catholic ritual would be complete without a reference to Mary. False Christianity is the devil’s masterpiece and has been a great stumbling-block to many people. They see this type of thing and think, “Christianity is just another vain religion,” not knowing that this is not true Christianity. None of this is supported by Scripture, and the prophet Isaiah warned, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).

(Friday Church News Notes, January 9, 2015, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)

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