Simony is the sin of buying, selling, or trading spiritual goods, services, or offices for material gain, originating from the biblical figure Simon Magus who tried to buy the Holy Spirit’s power from St. Peter. It involves illicitly exchanging sacred things like sacraments, Church positions (like bishoprics), blessings, relics, or spiritual power for money or temporal favors, essentially treating divine grace as a commodity.
Illustration by: Colton Rompala