Catholic protests listing of reputed relics for auction on eBay
Los Angeles, Feb 4, 2008

(CNA).- 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. the rest