Irreligion: Simony

Simony is the sin of trying to buy or sell something spiritual, or something connected with what is spiritual. Simonytakes its name from that of Simon Magus who tried to buy from the apostles the power of calling down the Holy Ghost by the imposing of hands (see Acts 8:18-24). Simony is a sin, because whatis spiritual cannot be estimated at a material price; because God alone owns what is spiritual, while his ministers only dispense it;because spiritual things flow freely from God and are to be freely given by his clergy (Matt. 10:8): “Freely have you received;freely give.” Therefore, simony is an irreverence to God, and consequently it is a sin against the virtue of religion.

The priests of the Church are to be supportedmaterially by the people to whom they minister, for those that serve the altar are to live by the altar. But no priest or prelatedare sell, or try to sell, sacrament, or Mass, or benefice, or ecclesiastical office, for this would be the sin of simony.

As we have said elsewhere, it is right and lawful togive something for the support of those who administer spiritual things, in accordance with the customs approved by the Church. Butin such giving (and in the receiving, too) there must be no hint or thought or slightest intention of buying and selling. Nor are people to be forced into making an offering by withholdingspiritual things that should be administered.

Things annexed to what is spiritual cannot be bought or sold unless the things can be evaluated in material terms entirely apart from their quasi-spiritual character. Thus, certain rights of patronage and benefice may be sold, if it be made clear to all parties that the spiritual element does not enter into the transaction. Similarly, blessed articles, such as blessed candles,may be sold if nothing extra is added to the price by reason of the blessing. Yet certain blessed articles lose their blessing (and attached indulgences for pious use) if they are sold, even lawfully and not simoniacally.

To grant something spiritual as remuneration for a service, issimony. For what is paid for a thing is estimated, or can be estimated, in terms of money.

Anything acquired simoniacally must be surrendered; it cannotjustly be retained. Those guilty of the sin of simony are subject to penalties set down in church law.