%sacrilege%

n. [ F. sacrilège, L. sacrilegium, from sacrilegus that steals, properly, gathers or picks up, sacred things; sacer sacred + legere to gather, pick up. See Sacred, and Legend. ] The sin or crime of violating or profaning sacred things; the alienating to laymen, or to common purposes, what has been appropriated or consecrated to religious persons or uses. [ 1913 Webster ]

And the hid treasures in her sacred tomb
With sacrilege to dig. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Families raised upon the ruins of churches, and enriched with the spoils of sacrilege. South. [ 1913 Webster ]