simony
Trading sacred offices
Simony is the buying or selling of church offices, pardons, or spiritual privileges.
The word comes from Simon Magus, a biblical figure who tried to purchase the power of the Holy Spirit from the apostles.
Though the practice was common in medieval Christianity, it was officially condemned as corruption: The bishop was deposed for simony after selling benefices to the highest bidder.
Endowed clerical position
- bishopricBishop's jurisdictional district
- indulgencesExcessive self-granted pleasures
- investitureCeremony conferring rank
- papacyPope's office and authority
clergy · diocese · tithe · abbey · canonical · excommunication · absolution · sacrament
Corrupt payment for influence
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
- influence peddlingSelling political access
payola · malfeasance · under-the-table · venality · patronage · trafficking
Violation of the hallowed
- profanationViolation of sanctity
- desecrationViolating something sacred
- blasphemyIrreverence toward the sacred
- irreverenceDisregard for what's honored
transgression · iniquity · wickedness · impiety · heresy · apostasy · moral turpitude · avarice
Intentional criminal trickery
- shamFraudulent imitation
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
duplicity · trickery · pretense · ruse · manipulation · deceit · scheming · dissimulation
benefice
Endowed clerical position
- bishopricBishop's jurisdictional district
- indulgencesExcessive self-granted pleasures
- investitureCeremony conferring rank
papacy · clergy · diocese · tithe · abbey · canonical · excommunication · absolution · sacrament · pontiff
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
influence peddling · payola · malfeasance · under-the-table · venality · patronage · trafficking
sacrilege
Violation of the hallowed
- profanationViolation of sanctity
- desecrationViolating something sacred
- blasphemyIrreverence toward the sacred
irreverence · transgression · iniquity · wickedness · impiety · heresy · apostasy · moral turpitude · avarice · covetousness
fraud
Intentional criminal trickery
- shamFraudulent imitation
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
chicanery · duplicity · trickery · pretense · ruse · manipulation · deceit · scheming · dissimulation
feudalism
Land-for-service social structure
- crusadesAggressive advocacy campaigns
- monasteryReligious seclusion dwelling
- relicsPreserved items from antiquity
pilgrimage · inquisition · schism · manor · serfdom · fiefdom · Avignon · antipope · Borgia · Medici
simonytrue devotion
spiritual purity · apostolic poverty · charitable giving · sanctity · incorruptibility