Members:Some guidelines and clarifications are necessary for public relic exhibits:
In the spirit and the letter of the Law we have decided to establish set of common guidelines for all member of the I.C.H.R. who exhibit relics for public and/or private veneration.
The first point is to address the veneration fo Church approved Saints. In the Code of Canon Law, in the section Public Cult of Saints/Blessed (Canon 1187), "Veneration through public cult is permitted only to those servants of God who are listed in the catalog of the saints or of the blessed by the authority of the Church. This statement excludes all who have not been approved for veneration by Rome including relics pertaining to; holy personages who are 'servants of God', holy personages declared, 'venerable', items from unapproved apparitions, visionaries, mystics, stigmatists and seers. The term 'relic' may be extended to servant of God and venerable for whom there is an official process.
A holy and proper atmosphere is imperative; relics are usually venerated in public by being exposed in their cases (teca-reliquary), with burning candles upon the table. If the veneration is at a Church they are often incensed by a Priest.
The ICHR discourages any solicitation for a donation of any monies directly related to the public or private veneration and/or exhibit of relics. This action could be misinterpreted as simony (A pastor approved stipend is excluded.)
Members of ICHR do not and will not condone the buying or selling of relics, and will do everything within its powers to see that all Catholic individuals comply to the Code of Canon Law (Canon 1190, "It is strictly forbidden to sell sacred relics." Canon 1171, " Sacred things which are destined for divine worship through dedication or a blessing are to be treated with reverence and not to be employed for improper or profane use, even if they are under the control of private individuals", Canon 1376, "One who profanes a movable or immovable or immovable sacred thing is to be punished with a just penalty.")
