Posted on 04/14/2005 3:50:12 AM PDT by giotto
An eBay spokesman explained Wednesday why the online auction site allowed the sale of a Holy Communion wafer allegedly blessed by the late Pope John Paul II in 1998 at his 20th anniversary Mass.The wafer was offered on Saturday by a seller in Sloan, Iowa, and sold on Monday for $2,000 to a man in Cupertino, Calif.
The Diocese of Sioux City let it be known Tuesday that is was offended by the item's listing.
Hani Durzy of eBay said the listing "kicked up a minor controversy at eBay," as well. But, he said, it was determined that the listing did not violate eBay's policy of what can be posted.
The company does not review listings before they are posted, Durzy said, but with 135 million registered users around the world, eBay is quickly alerted to any offensive material. Then the item is reviewed.
"We certainly looked at this one," he said, after getting "a handful" of phone calls and e-mails.
Durzy said while eBay "completely respects" the people who complained, it was determined that the sale of the Eucharist did not violate company policies.
"Our basic policy is, if it's illegal to sell off of eBay, it can't be sold on eBay," Durzy said. "Selling the (wafer) itself is not illegal. Above and beyond the law, we have a list of prohibited and restricted items. A classic example is guns -- no guns, no prescription drugs, limits on travel packages, alcohol and a number of other things."
In addition, he said, eBay has an "offensive materials policy" concerning race, religion, memorabilia owned by murderers and Nazi memorabilia. He said the policy allows eBay to pull listings promoting hatred or violence against an individual or group.
"If the listing doesn't explicitly do that, and this one didn't -- there was nothing in the images or text that promoted hatred or violence toward the Catholic Church in our estimation -- we're not going to pull the listing," Durzy said.
He explained that eBay does not sell anything, rather it provides the electronic marketplace where 40 million items are listed for sale at any given time, offered by millions of sellers. He said the site's 135 million users are in virtually every country in the world and represent every religion, race and social strata.
"That diversity extends to religion and beliefs," he said. "We knew there were going to be folks that were deeply offended. In fact, there may be many people here who share their distaste. However, we do our best to tolerate the many viewpoints held by our worldwide community.
"We hope that people understand that in a diverse community, that all opinions must be respected and we're not going to play the morality police," Durzy said. "If people are really, really offended by something on the site, they probably shouldn't bid on it."
If only 1% of eBay's 114 million users decided to sit out a few auctions, something tells me eBay might see things in a different light.
I bet eBay would have leapt to pull anything that might be deemed offensive to Muslims or Buddhists or Hindus.
"I bet eBay would have leapt to pull anything that might be deemed offensive to Muslims or Buddhists or Hindus."
Bump!
Also, the ACLU would be suing them toot sweet!
Those weren't promoting hate and/or violence, but the company pulled them after some Mormons objected.
Why shouldn't Catholics be accorded the same consideration?
If someone had something sacred to Jews, Muslims or Hindus and posted it on EBay. If it were removed by EBay would that be religious bigortry, but it probably isnt something that can engender a lawsuit.
I'm sure you're right, although some might argue that since religious artifacts of all kinds can be found on eBay or any other auction forum, then what's the difference? The difference is that a consecrated host is no mere artifact. It is, in the belief of billions of Catholics, the actual body of Christ. eBay does not allow the sale of human body parts. Christ is human. Therefore His body must not be sold. For eBay to dismiss this so casually just means that they hold in contempt that which Catholics hold so dear.
I tried to post a Muslim religious artifact on eBay, but they rejected it immediately.
Apparently, selling explosives is "against the rules".
Bigots.
Ping.
I was recently at a conference of ministers from various denominations. At lunch a lutheran minister explained to me the origin of the custom of communing parishoners by mouth. The practice arose to prevent people from "pocketing the host". The host was thought by some in medieval times to have miraculous powers so sometimes commuicants would pocket the host to take carry around with them for protection or take home with for good fortune. Communing by mouth prevented this "pocketing of the host". Is it possible that the person who listed the host had a similar view of its miraculous value of as the medieval communicants?
Well, if they allowed a grilled cheese sandwich with (supposedly) the face of -- was it Jesus or Mary? -- then they can certainly allow the sale of a communion wafer.
It's tasteless, to be sure, but if the seller and buyer want to make the transaction, so be it.
>>>>"Our basic policy is, if it's illegal to sell off of eBay, it can't be sold on eBay," Durzy said. "Selling the (wafer) itself is not illegal.
Ok. At what store can you buy a Eucharist?
LOL
This is pretty rough for me. As a fallen Catholic I dont go to church much, only at funerals, There I have nopticed that umlike 50 years ago practically everyone goes to communion now. When I was younger not so many people felt they were in the proper "state of Grace" to go. I never accept Communion as I dont feel worthy because of my lapse.
This person who accepted a host blessed by the Pope and carried it home instead of receiving it as the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ has committed a sacrilege by saving it and then to sell it for money has sold a piece of his soul. The person who bought it should take it to his priest and have his priest properly dispose of it.
Denigration of Catholics is the last acceptable prejudice.
Apparently to ebay. If that's the way they want it. I just won't ever use it again.
I am sick over this. Is there any indication that the purchaser is going to do the right thing and turn the Eucharistic wafer over to a Priest? Or does he have some nefarious purpose? Or is he just an ignorant collector?
Sounds like EBay needs to get a little more "information" (from a lot of people!) about what constitutes "hate" and "hate-filled" items.
I would be leery that it may not be the real thing at all. Forgive my ignorance, but is there any way to tell if it IS authentic,as the seller claims it is?
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