The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word SIMONY
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
S
I
M
O
N
Y
More clues leading to the result SIMONY
- Electronics firm covers writer’s trading benefits
- Buying spiritual benefits, perhaps, like Saint Peter originally?
- I’m in the music business, sinful trade
- Ecclesiastical offence is about cash — curate finally put away
- Is about ready to drop English cloth trade
- Invest one million in corporation selling offices
- Ecclesiastical offence by saint is unknown
- Ecclesiastical offence is about getting cash after selling benefit essentially
- Buying church benefits my son, I suspect
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Buying church benefits" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case buying church benefits = simony.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SIMONY mean?
SIMONY noun- The buying or selling of spiritual or sacred things, such as ecclesiastical offices, pardons, or consecrated objects.