One-word substitution (offence against sacred things): Identify the exact term for the act of violating the sanctity of a church or any sacred place/object. Context: Distinguish this from blasphemy (insulting speech) and heresy (doctrinal deviation). Instruction: Choose the most accurate single-word substitute.

Given data

• Sought meaning: the act of violating the sanctity of a church/sacred thing.
• Options: Sacrilege, Blasphemy, Heresy, Desecration.

Concept / Approach
Sacrilege = profaning or violating something sacred (place/object/rite); typically an act. Blasphemy = insulting or showing contempt for the divine, usually in speech; heresy = belief contrary to orthodox doctrine; desecration = general profanation, often synonymous but broader, not limited to sacred institutions like the church.

Elimination
Sacrilege — specific to breach of sacredness; best fit. ✅Blasphemy — verbal irreverence; not necessarily an act against a site/object. ❌Heresy — doctrinal deviation; belief, not an act upon a place/object. ❌Desecration — close, but sacrilege is the more precise, traditional term for church/sacred violation. ⚠️❌

Example
‘‘Stealing relics from a cathedral constitutes sacrilege.’’

Common pitfalls

• Choosing ‘‘blasphemy’’ because it sounds severe; the prompt focuses on an act against a sacred place/object.

Final Answer
Sacrilege