AUCTIONED HOST TAKEN OFF EBAY AND HANDED OVER TO DIOCESE

Spirit Daily ^ | April 16, 2005 | Mike Brown

[NYer]

We are pleased to report that the sale of what was purported to be a Host consecrated by Pope John Paul II and put up for sale on eBay, the on-line auctioneer, has been withdrawn, with the Host handed over to the Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa, where the seller is located [see previous story].

The issue garnered national media attention when, within minutes of a link to it on this website Wednesday night,, a Cupertino, California, man offered $2,000 for the Host to keep it out of the hands of witches, satanists, or souvenir hunters.

Although eBay claimed it received "a few" protests, the California man told us that he received 500 e-mails in just the several hours his address was displayed on Spirit Daily, before he asked us to remove his name, preferring anonymity.

Earlier Friday, Monsignor Roger J. Augustine, administrator of the Diocese of Sioux City, met with the seller and was advised that the sale would not be consummated.  According to Msgr. Augustine, the seller deeply regretted the effort to sell the Eucharist and extended a personal apology to him, the diocese and any others who had been offended by the eBay listing.  Because the transaction never materialized, there was no money exchanged or received.

"The Eucharist detailed in the eBay auction was given to Msgr. Augustine and has been properly disposed of according to the dictates of Catholic Church law," states a diocesan press release. "'As I said earlier this week, the Eucharist represents the true presence of Jesus Christ to Catholics,' said Msgr. Augustine.  'I am most grateful that the seller agreed that it was in everyone's best interest to bring this issue to a positive conclusion.'"

Continues the press release: "The issue of the attempted sale of the Eucharist has attracted both national and international attention with e-mails and fax messages coming into the diocesan office from countless communities. Although this specific issue has been resolved, the diocese still has differences with eBay and its policy governing the listing of items that are offensive to people of faith.  E-Bay officials contend they see nothing offensive with the sale of such items on their website. Many Catholic organizations and individuals have taken issue with that policy and apparently are making their opinions known to eBay officials."

Meanwhile, the man who purchased the Host, a member of the Knights of Columbus, told us that he is more than pleased with the outcome. "I'm overwhelmed with the silent majority and how they spoke up and took action in this case," he told us, referring to the many who voiced outrage [see secular report].

There were two bids before he placed his $2,000 offer, one for $120 and one for $150.

"I am not a Catholic and do not believe I'm going to hell for selling this collectible," said the owner in his original advertisement. "It's a memento from that great afternoon with Pope John Paul II. Yes, this is the actual Eucharist I saved during the Mass that I participated in on October 18th, 1998. I ate one wafer then I went back and got another one to save and he gave me another one, but I did get a very dirty look! I was studying in Florence that semester and a bunch of us went down to Rome that week to partake. I'm not Catholic, but I found it all very interesting. Along with the Eucharist, I have the program from that day and a little bulletin. It's all in Italian. I also have four stamps from the Vatican that year and a bottle opener that I bought when I was in Rome way back in 1992. From what I understand, if you're holding something in your hand during a certain moment when Pope John Paul II spoke during his Mass, it becomes blessed. I was holding this bottle opener during Mass with him in 1992. It has his picture on one side and a picture of the Trevi Fountain on the other."

The seller went on to explain that everything from 1998 (Eucharist, bulletin, program, and stamps) were encased in plastic in his "scratch book" and all were in "awesome condition." Photos authenticating his presence there that day were also to be included (although we cannot verify any of his claims).

[CouncilofTrent]

Well, I KNOW you have to re-assess your dogma. If you are not Catholic, you cannot go to Holy Communion in a Catholic Church. Simple as that. Your selfish attitude concerning what YOU think the Church should do is laughable, to say the least.

[newgeezer]

you would think the fear of offending others would cause them to pull it

It seems like the usual conservative answer to others being offended is that they should simply avoid whatever or whomever they find so offensive.

[Ann Archy]

Yes...t's in the Bible...and please don't take Holy Communion in the Catholic Church because it's NOT a symbol...it's the real deal.

[Ann Archy]

Libertina, NO Christian denomination OTHER than the Catholic Church believe that Holy Commnion IS the BODY and Blood of Christ....not a one. They ALL say it is a SYMBOL of the Body and Blood of Christ.....but we Catholics alone believe it IS.

I think you're spoofing here.....what denomination of Christian are you?

[Ann Archy]

You are MORE than welcome to come to Mass in ANY Catholic Church at any time.

[Ann Archy]

There is no other churches that believe the Consecrated Host is the Body and Blood of Jesus there than Catholic. I included Orthodox in the Catholic Church because we are in communion with them, I believe.

[narses]

To be accurate, there are Orthodox in union (uniate) and those in Schism. The schismatic still have valid orders and Sacraments. More - I think they are no longer ex-communicated but I'm uncertain. The Lutherans also believe in a transformation and the Reality of the Body and Blood but in an heretical fashion beyond my ken.

[A CA Guy]

Being they turned it over to the church, I think that was a totally class act ending to all this.

[Conservative til I die]

It's a free country. EBay can be as insensitive as they want. They aren't breaking any laws. However, that doesn't mean we operate in a crass, obnoxious, tasteless society. In the interest of taste and respect, EBay should have pulled the item. Catholics believe the consecrated Host *is* the Body of Christ (and the consecrated wine *is* His blood). To do anything disrespectful to it is to disrespect Christ. You'd think that EBay would recognize that.

There's a difference between telling someone what they must do (or force them to do) and telling them what they should do.

[Conservative til I die]

You have absolutely no clue and should quit while ahead.

Better yet, purchase a brain off of eBay. There most likely is one up for sale now with a low reserve.

[rmmcdaniell]

I was really disgusted that EBay would not pull it. Even if they think it's laughable that we believe that consecrated Host *is* the Body of Christ, you would think the fear of offending others would cause them to pull it. Instead, they were defiant.

Sh*tting on Catholics remains the one acceptable form of bigotry in this country.

Oh put a sock in it! If ebay removed everything that was offensive to someone, they would be out of business. Stop acting like a frail little liberal who gets offended for any little reason.

[Conservative til I die]

And the lifestyles of the young and clueless continue...

I read the (many) replies and appreciate that (Catholics ?) took the time to answer. As to the question about taking communion, it is a CHRISTIAN action, not a Catholic one.

Uh, no. In a Catholic Church, it's a Catholic thing. That's why it's a *Catholic* Church and not a Methodist Church.

All Christian churches believe that it is the Body of Christ.

What?!? No Protestant Church believes that the Eucharist is the actual Body and Blood of Christ. A few of the "high" Protestant denominations like the Anglicans and Lutherans believe something approaching the Catholic idea on transubstantiation. Most of the other Protestant sects, if they even celebrate the Communion, view it as a symbolic remembrance. In other words, it's still just bread and wine (or in some cases, water or grape juice).

Why do you write as though Catholics have the goods on that more than anyone else?

No one here has said anything even remotely close to this. Catholics have merely stated that Catholic sacraments are reserved for Catholics.

Do you think the rest of us Christians just look at Communion as a snack during the service? It seems so very haughty.

No, it seems so very factual. Like I said, most Protestant groups do no view the Eucharist as the transubstantiated Body and Blood of Christ.

For a Christian church to deny Christian visitors communion is indefensible IMO.

It's custom. You don't have some sort of Constitutional right to our Communion.

I lived in a place where I had no option but a Catholic church, so I should be denied communion because I was only a "Christian"?

Yes. Unequivocally. And I don't buy that you had no option but a Catholic Church.

I have often heard people describe some believers as "Catholic" - not Christian - I can now begin to understand why. FWIW, the rest of us "lowly" Protestants, Baptists, Episcopalians (Christians) etc. seem to get along fine. I cannot conceive of the elitism and discourteousness of telling a CHRISTIAN in my church that they were not welcome.

You're welcome to come to our Church. Just kindly respect our wishes to stay away from our sacrament. PRetend you're a guest in someone's house, and not some ogre, and respect the rules of the house.

While the replies to me have been fairly courteous, no doubt some Catholic poster here probably believes we non-Catholics shouldn't even be allowed to comment on this "private" thread...

[Ronaldus Magnus]

Protestants don't "check" someone's faith and determine who is or is not worthy of communion.

Many, many protestant denomination do just that. I would advise you to use greater caution in making generalizations about a negative grouping.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Don't worry about me taking communion there. It's never been offered. I consider this a snub.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I wasn't listing this church or that. I was describing people as members of a church.

I've never heard it preached from the pulpit that this person in the second pew should NOT take communion.

[Conservative til I die]

It's interesting, though. A Protestant would not declare another person unworthy of communion.

Well, that's the Protestants' business. Let us Catholics worry about our rules.

[Conservative til I die]

Your parents as Catholics probably should not receive Communion in a Protestant Church.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Most definitely, like in choosing the Pope.

[Conservative til I die]

Oh put a sock in it!

I don't think so, slappy.

If ebay removed everything that was offensive to someone,The fact is, eBay regularly removes items that are offensive or borderline illegal. That they wouldn't even act in their own best interest by removing this one auction shows a real lack of judgment.

I'll make it real clear for you. Catholics believe that the consecrated bread and wine become the actual Body and Blood of Christ. For someone to then treat the Body and Blood with disrespect (say, feeding it to a dog, stepping on it, throwing it in the trash, etc.) is disrespect to Christ Himself.

You may think that's a silly belief, but you can at least respect it, and respect how we might feel if eBay is allowing some charlatan to sell it like it was junk to whoever, say even a Satanist who would profane the Body. Its not about being a whiny liberal, it's about keeping others from blaspheming Christ.

[Conservative til I die]

Don't worry about me taking communion there. It's never been offered. I consider this a snub.

Here's a nickel. Tell someone who gives a rat's tail about you not being included.