Simony

High school (ages 12+)
Philosophy & Big Questions

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/simony

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the ethical violation?Considered a corruption of divine grace, spiritual authority, and public trust
2. What is the reform efforts?Central to reform movements within the Church, such as the Gregorian Reform
3. Why did Simon Magus want to buy the Holy Ghost?Simon offered money to the apostles to get the power to give the Holy Ghost to others. Peter said that money cannot buy God's gifts.
4. How did the Church try to stop simony in the past?In the 11th century, Pope Gregory VII led reforms to stop buying church offices and to keep the Church pure. Church councils also made rules against it.

Ecclesiastical Offices: Positions of authority and responsibility within a church or religious organization.
Benefice: An endowed church office, especially one that provides income for the holder.
Gregorian Reform: A series of 11th-century reforms aimed at improving the moral and institutional integrity of the Church.
Meritocracy: A system where advancement is based on individual ability or achievement.