Gads. Has anyone here been to Fatima?
At the time I was there (many years ago) it had at least 100 small stalls selling junk in name of saints, etc. I am not trying to be mean, but it was the most vulgar display I had ever seen and never since in the name of religion.
I was totally shocked.
So what is my point?
Fatima is so full of tourist wandering around, it would have been like getting rid of the body in Time Square.
Before I get flamed for maybe giving the “appearance” of being anti Catholic, I was baptized as an RC as was all of my family. As I matured, a lot of my friends were Episcopalians and eventually was confirmed there. But, we all know the rest of the story; and therefore, we all know the Episcopalian tragedy. I haven’t been to church in years.
I understand your point, but, really, what's wrong with buying or selling an image of a saint, even if it isn't well done? Think of the hours that people spend every weekend at flea markets, collecting ultimately meaningless sports memorabilia, and the like. And no one blinks at that. If you're intent on buying low quality stuff, you might as well buy low quality religious stuff.
In the immediate vicinity of the shrine, yes.
If one walks fifteen minutes from Times Square (which is so packed with people shoulder to shoulder it is hard to stay on the sidewalk) one can find oneself all alone in Manhattan by an empty pier on the Hudson.
I'm going to guess that if one strays somwhat outside the tiny village of Fatima, there are secluded places there as well.