Simony

Simon Magus

Simon saw Peter and John giving the Holy Spirit through confirmation to the baptized (Acts 8:14-17) and offered money for that power. Peter rebuked him for thinking God's gift could be bought (Acts 8:18-24). All blessings come from God. He blesses those who seek first his kingdom (Matthew 6:33), and those who seek spiritual shortcuts through money or influence will answer to him (see 1 Corinthians 3:10-15).

Simony against divine law, such as trying to buy the power to confer grace, is always gravely wrong. Against Church law only, its gravity depends on what is bought or sold and the scandal given.

In history

Simony became widespread in the Middle Ages, when Church office was sought for worldly influence and officeholders were manipulated with money. The corruption scandalized the faithful (see CCC 2284-2287), recalling that the love of money is the root of all evils (1 Timothy 6:10). Buying offices puts authority in the hands of the wealthy rather than trusting God to raise up leaders.

Even popes were guilty: Julius II used promises and bribery in the 1503 conclave. He later issued a bull invalidating any future simoniacal papal election. Since this was a changeable discipline, St. Pius X rescinded it in 1904 to prevent schism over a disputed election, knowing Christ preserves his Church amid scandal (Matthew 16:18). St. John Paul II confirmed this in 1996: those guilty of simony in a papal election incur automatic excommunication, but the election's validity cannot be challenged on that ground (Universi Dominici Gregis 78). We should not fall into Donatism and leave the Church over her leaders' sins.

Why it matters

Simony is about control, an attempt to justify evil means by supposedly good ends (CCC 1761), to possess and manipulate what is God's. True faith responds to God's free gifts with childlike humility (Matthew 18:1-4).

Common questions

• Is simony a sin? Yes, often grave.
• Why are priests paid? "The laborer deserves his payment" (Luke 10:7). Stipends, including for Masses, are just compensation, not simony.
• May I buy a blessed rosary? Yes, but nothing extra may be charged because it is blessed.