What is the practice of buying church positions?

This was a common, if illicit practice in the early days of Christianity. It was a form of political graft in a different Habit, as it were. The term used was Simony. The practice was condemned but existed in various forms until quite modern times. This was one argument against linkage of Church and state, a prominent Feudal politician, say a Count, Major ( forerunner of Mayor!) could pull rank so to speak- To Bishop so and so, My son is a good Catholic=-can you get him a Monsignorage assignment, he"s been a priest - many years- here"s a big donation to the ecclesiastical building fund ( for Pete"s Sake) - answer- so and so raised to monsignor! this was one of the things that irked Luther into triggering the Reformation. it"s called Simony.