An organization that has launched a boycott of the online auction site eBay because of its sales of human body parts now says the company has gone too far – offering a relic of the real Santa Claus, or St. Nicholas, just in time for Christmas.

“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,” said Tom Serafin, founder and president of the International Crusade for Holy Relics.

St. Nicholas, who lived during the 300s and was known for his charity to the people in his diocese, which probably was in Myra, Turkey, is celebrated with a feast day on Dec. 6, according to Serafin.

But he also was the subject of a $289.99 Buy-it-now transaction on the Internet auction house, even though the company says “humans, the human body, or any human body parts are not permitted on eBay.”

Posted: 12|6|06 at 8:09 am. Filed under: Auction News.