Corrupt Church: Difference between revisions

{{quote|''“I have no more cause for shame than you, you vulture-hearted plunderer,” answered Murilo promptly. “You exploit a whole kingdom for your personal greed; and, under the guise of disinterested statesmanship, you swindle the king, beggar the rich, oppress the poor, and sacrifice the whole future of the nation for your ruthless ambition. You are no more than a fat hog with his snout in the trough. You are a greater thief than I am. This Cimmerian is the most honest man of the three of us, because he steals and murders openly.”

“Well, then, we are all rogues together,” agreed Nabonidus equably. “And what now? My life?”'' }}

* Post-Apocalypse novel ''[[Malevil]]'' has the Parish of La Roque. It's really little more then a four-man oligarchy operating under the leadership of a fake priest. They tricked the townspeople into giving the priest control over the supplies, then became abusive and cruel under the guise of the "parish council".

* While many of the rank-and-file clergy and believers of the Unionist Church in ''[[Wicked (novel)|Wicked]]'' are harmless, the bishops and higher-ups are in league with the Wizard and using the faith to justify all kinds of persecution and social oppression in Oz. The oppression and inqusitorial practices don't end when "Oz the Great and Powerful" is run out of town.

* ''Burden of the Emperor'' series by Iar Elterrus (''Бремя Императора'', Иар Эльтеррус): the most successful conspiracy against the Empire heavily involved the church, including the death of the Emperor. An [[Chekhov's Gun|old document]] testifying to the peaceful demise of an imperial dignitary in a monastery several centuries ago leads to a massive revision of the church history. {{spoiler|The church was actually slowly, carefully and deliberately pushed from [[Saintly Church]] into this trope with a good helping of [[Absolute Xenophobe]] on the side}}.

* ''Alien'' by Igor' Dravin (''Чужак'', Игорь Дравин): while those monasteries close to the setting's [[Hell Gate]] see the signs and know very well where their duties and loyalties belong, other branches and orders within the local [[Crystal Dragon Jesus]] church are still fighting for power and influence.

 

== Live-Action TV ==