An e-mail written in mid-April after learning a consecrated host was auctioned on eBay:
"I am writing about the recent auction of a consecrated host through the eBay system. I received a forwarded copy of an email response sent from eBay Customer Support to a friend of mine, which I have included below.
In the email, the representative said that eBay did not interfere with the listing because a consecrated host is not illegal to sell, and the listing did not explicitly promote hatred.
My hope is that eBay measures its actions to a standard other than what is purely legal. After all, courteous customer service is hardly required by law, yet all businesses recognize it as vital to the conduct of their business. So while the law may define what actions can be challenged in a court, it hardly defines what makes a good business practice. Good business practice stems from a mutual respect between a business and its customers, and is what separates a good company from one which will lose its patrons over time.
I believe eBay recognizes this fact, and it is the reason why it developed the policy of prohibiting listings which explicitly promote hatred. This policy recognizes the fact that transactions are more than just the exchange of money and goods, but that they have an impact on people. And certain transactions show such a level of disregard for people, that they should not be permitted.
I believe gross irreverence to an item which another human being believes supremely sacred, to show a deep disregard for that person. In a civil society, we accord each other respect, even if we may disagree. For this reason, I would not trample the sacred burial grounds of the American Indians, nor would I think it tolerable to auction off a sacred Catholic Eucharist. eBay was not the seller of the Eucharist, but by not prohibiting the listing, it supported a policy of deep disregard for the religious beliefs of its members.
The email below speaks of eBay's open and diverse community, and its commitment to tolerance of diverse viewpoints. I am asking that eBay demonstrate its commitment to that tolerance by expanding its Offensive Materials policy in a way that respects the religious beliefs of its members. This could be done by including a statement that eBay will not permit the selling of religious articles which would not be sold within the religion itself.
I appeal to eBay, the entity, to promote the religious freedom of the country in which it is incorporated by showing peoples of all faiths that their beliefs will be respected. I appeal to you, the people of eBay, to work toward building an online community which fosters mutual respect among all its members.
I thank you for your consideration, and ask that you expand your Offensive Materials policy to respect the religious beliefs of your members, or explain the reasons why you will not."
UPDATE: eBay has broadened its policies to forbid the sale of Eucharists and other similar highly sacred items.
