simony

simony is the buying or selling of a spiritual office, act, or privilege. The term comes from Simon Magus, the magician who tried to buy the power to bestow miracles from the Apostles (Acts 8:18). It is not necessary for money to change hands in order for an act to be deemed simony; if any kind of compensation is offered, and if the motive for the deal is a personal gain of some kind, then simony is the offense.