As you know, somebody sold a consecrated Eucharist on Ebay. I was reading another forum and one of the members posted a response by Ebay on the matter:

(found here: http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=49555)

"Please keep in mind that many of us at eBay may also share your distaste with an item, and may not support the sale. In fact, eBay has many Catholic employees. However, we do our best to understand and tolerate the many viewpoints held by our worldwide community. The Eucharist is not illegal to sell, and is generally allowed on eBay as long as the seller does not otherwise include hateful text or images in the listing."

What can we do? Like the response says, Ebay has Catholics working for them, yet they will still allow the sale of the Eucharist. As Catholics, we must never take the holy Eucharist away from the Mass, correct? (i.e., take it home as a souvenir, etc.) I will pray for those who sold the Eucharist and pray no more abuses occur. Thanks again for your help and God bless!

-Stephen

This is disturbing and underscores the serious responsibility that pastors have to be vigilant about the Eucharist. Pastors should make sure that people receiving Holy Communion at Church receive in front of the priest or minister giving out Holy Communion and should make sure that those who bring Holy Communion to the sick and shut ins follow strict procedures. There is no other reason for taking Holy Communion out of the Church than to bring it to the sick or to shut ins as spiritual food and holy medicine.

Those Catholics directly involved in this grave sin and canonical crime are subjec to an automatic excommunication that is served to the Holy See (canon 1367).

People are certainly free to consider boycotting eBay for allowing this act which is most gravely offensive to Catholic senisilities.

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