Religious Relics For Sale Has Many Angered

By Ken Molestina

EL PASO — From books and movies to clothing and cars, everything is up for sale on the world wide web. But it is the online auctioning of religious relics for profit that has many angry across the nation and even locally.

The relics in question are specifically those that are or were a part of the body of canonized saint or religious figure. Anything from a fragment of bone to a lock of hair is addressed by concerns about what is sold on auction sites like eBay; many consider it a sacrilege.

A Newsweek article from last year profiled a coalition of Christians that had been pushing online vendors and particularly auction sites from allowing the sale of ‘body fragments’ of any kind. Saturday, ABC-7 found at least three items available for sale on eBay.

A strand of hair from St. Bernadette Souboris had an immediate asking price of $450. Christian and Catholic groups said the icons are meant to transferred as gifts by the church and should not be for sale or profit.

A local priest and chaplain said that not only is the practice wrong, it is more than likely a hoax upon which some parishioners may place false hopes or faith.

“First class relics are seldom available for sale, and that kind of advertisement is false. Finger nail clippings? I’ve never heard of that,” said Manuel Marufo, chaplain at Fort Bliss.

Marufo said before even considering buying into a ‘first class relic’ as a means to sacramental involvement, the faithful should first consult their priest or pastor.