Is this not just straight up simony

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So there is this store called “www.russianstore.com” that sells a lot of religious items like crosses and icons and a lot of other things, how ever they also appear to sell reliquaries which is according to canon law 1190 “strictly forbidden”. Are they jusr a website posing as a trusted Catholic merchandise store? All of these relics have papal documents and seals so they are legitimate. Should we report this to someone?
 
There are definitely items for sell that seem very questionable with regards to Canon law. I am not for sure who to report it to. Perhaps if the location of the company could be determined it could be reported to that diocese.
 
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It is not forbidden to sell reliquaries. It is forbidden to sell relics. They are two very different things.
 
I looked at the website to see if they had any info on this and found on their FAQ:

“Aren’t Catholic prohibited from selling relics?”
Response: “Even Though Catholic Code of Canon Law 1190 places restrictions on selling relics, we, as an Orthodox store, are not subject to such restrictions.”

It also states that Catholics are not prohibited from buying them, something which I don’t know much about.
 
tafan2 said:
But they are certainly selling relics.
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Buying the relics would be simony. Buying a reliquary (the thing that holds the relic) is not.
redbaron162 said:
It also states that Catholics are not prohibited from buying them, something which I don’t know much about.
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If they’re saying that about Catholics and relics, they’d be wrong.
 
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Fauken said:
Buying the relics would be simony. Buying a reliquary (the thing that holds the relic) is not.
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I understand, but their are selling reliqaries advertised as still containing various relics.


This slight of hand doesn’t cut it, they are selling relics.

Now, I do not know the law of the Russian Orthodox Church, it does appear based in the US. But a Catholic cannot buy those items.
 
This is odd seeing as they sell catholic relics such as Charles borromeo and alphonsus ligouri
 
In former Soviet Union, everything for sale. You need cathedral?

Seriously, if relics cannot be sold, I would certainly step far away from buying one - no matter the source. Last thing I want to do is face God Almighty on that day and say “Well, technically Lord, it was OK…”
 
So why have the law if all one needs to do is enclose a relic in a reliquary and sell it that way?

Read the description of the objects, they are selling relics. Looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, it’s a duck.
 
tafan2 said:
So why have the law if all one needs to do is enclose a relic in a reliquary and sell it that way?
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To play Devil’s Advocate, because the money is going to the reliquary itself. They still have to be made, and they require money in order to be made. They’re not cheap. Relics, if I’m not mistaken, can be given away for free, however, and that would not be simony.

I think the key here is that the donation of the relic is contingent on the sale of the reliquary, if that makes sense.
 
I find this laughable considering when you go to Rome the shady selling of many things is rampant. From spots in line to rosaries blessed by the pope… it’s one of the most corrupt markets I’ve ever seen.
 
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Because people in Rome engage in questionable practices, the Church’s law is laughable? Or criticizing someone else for selling relics is laughable.

I have spent time in Rome, I don’t remember relics being sold openly.
 
Imagine you’re in a store at the Vatican that sells rosary beads. On one shelf you have rosary beads which have been blessed by the Pope - on sale for $10. On the next shelf you have the exact same style of rosary beads but not blessed - also for $10. In such circumstances you cannot honestly say the blessing is being sold in any way shape or form. And you can certainly sell even blessed beads for a reasonable.price.
 
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but they aren’t selling it for the reliquaries they are doing it for the relics, they have gold reliquaries for alphonsus ligouri at 380 dollars and silver reliquaries for mary and the apostles at the same size for over 2k, there is no way it’s for the reliquaries it’s for the relics
 
Relics of Mary? Now that’s just an outright scam. If I’m not mistaken, there are no first class relics of Mary whatsoever. Either way, I was speaking generally, not about that store in particular.
 
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If it troubles you so much, don’t buy from them.

In any case, if they claim to have relics of Mary for sale, I wouldn’t vouch for the authenticity of their other relics.
 
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