The fact is that no one is authorized to sell relics, and relic hawkers often profit greatly at the expense of the faithful. Anything else is clearly abuse. The question of where today s sellers are obtaining relics is an important issue. Often relics from the estate collections of private individuals are not donated to churches or returned to Rome. Rather, they are sold off to dealers who then resell them for substantial monetary gain.
Relic theft is another concern.
In 1981, thieves stole St. Lucy s remains from a Venetian church and, in 1991, four masked thieves entered St. Anthony s Basilica in Padua, Italy, threatened worshippers at gunpoint, and stole the relic of St. Anthony s jawbone and teeth. While these major relics were recovered, less dramatic thefts from churches, monasteries, and convents are ongoing, and stolen articles enter the marketplace with relative ease. Regardless of any seller s claims, the only way to obtain a guaranteed genuine relic is through the Church. The fact that people are willing to spend large amounts of money for relics affirms the spiritual importance of these items and suggests a need within our society for tangibles that lead us to God. While many buyers undoubtedly treat relics with proper respect, the issues of profiteering, fakes and stolen relics, misrepresentations, Internet venue, competitive bidding, inflated costs, and concern for authentic relics sacred character cannot be ignored.