Monday, February 04, 2008

Catholic protests listing of reputed relics for auction on eBay

ARTICLE

"The internet auction site eBay is listing for sale the reputed relics of Catholic saints, Newsweek reports, though a layman has taken up the task of preventing the site’s sale of both sacred items and the bodily remains of holy men and women.

Recently, alleged strands of hair from the head of St. Therese of Liseux were put up for auction with bids starting at $40. Another auction opening at $49.99 purported to be a fragment of bone from St. Philomena, a 13-year-old girl who is said to have been flogged, drowned, and beheaded for refusing marriage to the Roman Emperor Diocletian.

A “splendid, rare, antique” reliquary containing bone fragments from six different saints from a dealer at Belgium was posted for auction at an opening price of $625.

If the relics are genuine, their sale would violate Catholic canon law, which states, "it is absolutely forbidden to sell sacred relics..."

3 comments:

teresa_anawim2 said...

I would rather see these relics... (if if they are genuine, they will come with the 'authentic', or documents from Rome which have the stamped seal)...I would rather see someone who is a Catholic pay to get them out of the hands of an antiques auctioneer or someone out to trying to make profit by hiking the price way up. At least they would end up being respected and venerated rather than traveling the auction circuit.(or used for occult practices)

Marie said...

This really IS disgusting!!!

Surely Relics should be above monetary value. I just hope it is NOT Catholics who are selling them on Ebay!

Excellent post TY Esther:)

Peace & love to you:)

Marie xoxoxo

EC Gefroh said...

Teresa, ty for commenting.

Marie, I hope not!