Diocese of Rome says sale of relics is sacrilegious

Published: 2007-09-27

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Diocese of Rome has underlined that the sale of relics is sacrilegious, following media reports that bits of garments worn by Pope John Paul II were being sold online. The Rome diocesan office charged with promoting Pope John Paul's sainthood cause has been distributing prayer cards and relics, tiny pieces of one of the white cassocks worn by the late pope. The cards and relics are offered free of charge to those requesting them, but the office has sometimes encouraged donations for postage. More recently, its Web site ran a more general invitation to make a "free-will offering for the cause." That apparently caused enough confusion to spur press reports of the sale of relics. In late September, the diocesan Web site posted interviews with church officials emphasizing that the relics were not for sale and never have been. "Relics absolutely cannot be bought or sold because they are sacred objects, they have no price. The problem of the sale of relics is widespread on the Internet, and let me say that this is a sacrilege," Msgr. Marco Frisina, who heads the liturgy office in the Diocese of Rome, said in one of the interviews.

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .