ICHR Announces Support from Religious and Indigenous Activists

Contact: Tom Serafin, ICHR, 818-416-9279

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 4 /Christian Newswire/ -- In a stunning posting on eBay, a relic of the real Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) is for sale in time for Christmas. The sale comes at a time when a growing chorus of voices of religious and indigenous groups worldwide have expressed support for a boycott of eBay over the online company’s refusal to stop the sale of sacred items.

“The St. Nicholas sale shows just how out of touch eBay is,” said Tom Serafin, International Crusade for Holy Relics (ICHR) founder and president. “It is the most vile form of commercialism that allows relics of our beloved St. Nicholas, icon of the Christmas season, to end up a stocking stuffer.”

St. Nicholas lived during the 300s and was known for his charity to the people of his diocese believed to be in Myra, Turkey. His feast day is celebrated Dec. 6.

“On the very day that people worldwide gather in churches to remember St. Nicholas, his relics will be sold to the highest bidder on eBay,” said Serafin. “On St. Nicholas’s feast day, people should be praying, not paying for his relics.”

Supporters of the rights of religious and indigenous peoples have joined the International Crusade for Holy Relics in its call to boycott eBay over the sale of sacred objects. The ICHR had called for a boycott beginning on Nov. 1.

Hundreds– including Al Kresta of Ave Maria Radio, of academic and religious figures from as far away as Greece, as well as the native Hawaiian organization Kāko‘o ‘Ōiwi – have rallied in calling for all concerned to join the battle against the online auction giant.

“We are grateful for the support and are encouraged that eBay’s shameful hypocrisy is finally being noticed on an international scale and we ask all people of goodwill to join in bringing some semblance of decency to one of the world’s most profitable internet companies,” said Tom Serafin. “A company as successful as eBay should be able to police its own website.”

Relics, many of which include pieces of bone, are routinely sold on eBay despite the sites stated policies banning the sale of body parts.

“St. Nicholas devoted his life to charity,” said Serafin, “eBay should show him some charity and pull this sale. They have sold out the Christmas season.”

ICHR has been battling eBay over the sales of relics for nearly a decade. The sale can be viewed at: click here