SIMONY

the buying and selling of spiritual offices was from early times regarded as a grievous sin in the Church. It is so-called from Simon Magus, who, according to Acts 8, wished to buy spiritual power from St. Peter. Sometimes to accept money at all for the performance oi spiritual functions was held to be s.; but it was seen that this was hardly just. More difficult was the buying and selling of patronage, which, though not contrary to canon law, has been to some an offense. S. is now an ecclesiastical but not a criminal offense.