History Main / CorruptChurch

* In the novel ''Literature/{{Beyond}}'', the church changes its doctrine to fit its political doctrine.

* The Church of Pardal in part three of Creator/DavidWeber's Literature/EmpireFromTheAshes trilogy exists for the sole purpose of keeping technology at a pre-industrial level. [[WellIntentionedExtremist It was originally created to enforce a quarantine against the spread of a really nasty bioweapon virus]], but it has lasted and dominated the planet of Pardal for at least 9,000 years.

* The US President keeps a preacher on the cabinet in Robert Zubrin's ''TheHolyLand'', and follows his policy recommendations. There being pagan aliens in Kennewick, Washington, to kill, the reverend doesn't see the problem with 100:1 casualty ratios, so long as the American Christians outnumber the pagan aliens 300:1.

** In fact, Bernard Cornwell loves this trope. All throughout the trilogy and even during the height of Arthur's Golden Age in ''TheWarlordChronicles'', corrupt Christian Churches are a major source of trouble, spreading corruption, and civil unrest. Of course, they're just one source of trouble, as crazy Pagan fanatics and various people with no ideology besides gaining wealth and power also cause all sorts of problems.

* The Faith of the Seven in Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire, has its fair share of corrupt clergymen, especially in the upper echelons (generally the rank-and-file clergy are much nicer, apart from [[PedophilePriest Septon Utt]]). The Most Devout and the High Septon are basically in the pocket of [[BigBad Tywin Lannister]], not to mention being extremely hypocritical (frequenting whorehouses and feasting while the city starves). In ''A Feast For Crows'', a [[TheFundamentalist new High Septon]] puts a stop to this sort of thing, although even he is prepared to ignore the allegations of incest (one of the deadliest sins in the Faith) surrounding the parentage of King Tommen I Baratheon in return for the Faith being allowed to reconstitute its old [[ChurchMilitant private armies.]]
* In Creator/RobertEHoward's ConanTheBarbarian story "Literature/RoguesInTheHouse," when the priest Nabonidus accuses Murilo, Murilo counter accuses:

* Part of an [[GreenSkyTrilogy Ol-Zhaan's]] duties in Kindar society is the role of priest, worshiping and cultivating the [[GovernmentDrugEnforcement sacred Wissenberry vine]], keeping the PerfectPacifistPeople from learning too much about things like hatred and anger, and making damn sure the dissidents and their progeny are kept sealed below the ground to starve...

* The Church in the BardicVoices series by MercedesLackey. While there are individual priests/monks/nuns that are truly good people (like High Bishop Ardis of Kingsford), there many more that are corrupt and venial and gain positions of power to further their own shady agendas (like High Bishop Padrik of Gradford).
* Arguably the Enigma Babylon One World Faith in the LeftBehind books is this, composed primarily of the Roman Catholic Church combined with various sects of Christianity that does not adhere to fundamentalist theology along with other religions believing that their doctrines can be found somehow compatible with each other.
* The Christian Church in ''TheMistsOfAvalon'' is depicted as misogynistic, authoritarian, close-minded and just generally nasty. Of course, the pagan religious leaders, especially [[TheChessmaster Viviane]], are often antagonistic and overzealous to the point of cruelty, but Christianity is definitely given the harsher treatment.

* In JohnCWright's ''Literature/CountToTheEschaton'', one arose, once, while Menelaus slept in cold sleep.

* In AndreNorton's ''Literature/TheZeroStone'', the Green Robes are a ReligionOfEvil ''plus'' this. They practice HumanSacrifice, but they influence the LotteryOfDoom that is supposed to select the victims, usually avoiding off-worlders and in the opening, picking the hero and his mentor to seize something they own.

-->''“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.”\\

* Brother Justin Crowe, in the HBO series ''{{Carnivale}}'' has ''two'' of these. First, his traditional Methodist church in Mintern in Season One is kind of sketchy, as its members are racist, with the occasional pedophile thrown in for good measure. In Season Two, he forms the Temple of Jericho, dedicated to his pursuit of darkness, which expands into a city-sized encampment, called New Canaan.

[[folder:Comicbooks]]
* A recurring ComicBook/{{X-Men}} villainous organisation are the Purifiers, a Corrupt Church founded on FantasticRacism; the group literally believes mutants are the minions of {{Satan}} sent to conquer the Earth in his name, so they brutally seek out and murder any mutant or mutant sympathiser they can.

* A recurring ComicBook/{{X-Men}} villainous organisation are the Purifiers, a CorruptChurch founded on FantasticRacism; the group literally believes mutants are the minions of {{Satan}} sent to conquer the Earth in his name, so they brutally seek out and murder any mutant or mutant sympathiser they can.

* In ''VideoGame/Earthbound'', Happy-Happyism seems to exist only to enable a leader to abuse the power of the Mani Mani Statue, which eventually ends up enabling Pokey.

* ''FinalFantasyTactics'': The Murond Glabados Church is just one of the many [[TheChessmaster Chessmasters]] in the game. [[spoiler: They intend to use the Lion War to seize political power, uniting Ivalice under themselves, and to take advantage of the "Zodiac Brave" tale to gain the approval of the commoners.]]

* ''FinalFantasyX'': The Church of Yu-Yevon is an oppressive, violently Luddite organization that unknowingly (and in some cases knowingly) [[spoiler: perpetuates the cycle of Sin's death and rebirth]]. The head of the church as well as Yunalesca [[spoiler: are Unsent, undead monsters that the Church is ostensibly trying to eradicate]]

* The Church of EZI from the PS3 version of ''EternalSonata'' could also qualify, with the church itself being hidden in an icy mountain, accessible only in Encore Mode, inhabited by crazy nerds who not only worship what is supposedly the god of music and laughter among other things, when it turns out to be [[spoiler: a weird tiki statue that is also the game's hardest superboss]], they also merchandise the thing like crazy, creating useless/creepy items such as crackers that make children cry, ruined string phones, and pajamas that induce nightmares when slept in.
* Though confined to a single house of worship rather than a widespread institution, Oublie Cathedral in ''EternalDarkness'' is this trope in spades. Going back to the 9th century, its clergy has been replaced by demons in disguise who worship the BigBad. This is particularly highlighted in the cathedral's second level, when Paul Luther discovers that [[spoiler: the demons have been publicizing a fake relic held at the cathedral in order to lure pilgrims as sacrificial victims.]]

*** It should be noted however that this is not so much corruptin as cowardice on the part of the Grand Cleric herself as an individual who just didn't feel up for the politics. Furthermore, it doesn't really help that virtually every mage encountered in the series have a nasty tendency to prove the Chantry right about hating and fearing blood magic by willing to use it when the chips are down almost to a man and summon demons. Its hard not to take the Chantry's side almost all the time, at least when it comes to the issue of blood magic.
* The Messians in the first Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei games. They are ''[[KnightTemplar absolutely]]'' faithful to [[GodIsEvil God]] and his archangels... which does ''not'' stop them from being a bunch of bastards.
* The Scarlet Crusade of ''WorldOfWarcraft'' was formed to protect the Light and destroy the undead plague upon the land. They took in people who had lost family to the Scourge and offered them a new life, battling their enemy. Unfortunately, its founders were charismatic and ''completely insane'', so paranoia and fanaticism was the name of the game. Unless somebody wears their colors, they're automatically assumed infected with the plague and are killed on sight. What most likely ensured their fall into Corrupt Church status was their incorporation of [[spoiler:the disgused demons Balnazzar and Mal'ganis as high-ranking officials. By the time they've reached Northrend to attack the Scourge, they're actually using demonic magic and thinking it's a blessing of the Light]]!

* Lodism in ''TacticsOgre'' and ''OgreBattle64''. Originally founded as a CrystalDragonJesus religion, by a Prince Lodis said to be the mortal son of the leader of the gods. The religion has been twisted into an oppressive system, enforcing a caste system and working to take control of the Lodis Empire (which became a theocracy after a coup engineered by the church).

* In ''{{Dishonored}}'' Ever since the death of the empress, the Overseers from the Abbey of the Everyman seems have become corrupted, pretty much enacting martial law and rounding up anyone that might be thought as heretics. The High Overseer intentionally breaks everyone of the seven strictures every day as his own little joke.
* The Founders' religion with its leader "Father" Zachary Comstock in ''VideoGame/BioShockInfinite''.

[[Folder:Webcomics]]
* The world of ''Webcomic/DemonFist]]'' is controlled by a Church which thinks little of obliterating towns for even minor rebellions, and in particular is interested in the protagonist to duplicate his [[HeroicHost fusion of human and demon]] for their own use

* ''MagicTheGathering'' has the Orzhov Syndicate from the Ravnica setting. Their [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=96844 Pontiff]] is illustrated in the page image, and lands associated with them include the [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=366302 Godless Shrine]] and the [[ObviouslyEvil tellingly-named]] [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=97206 Orzhova, the Church of Deals]]. Made even more obvious in the Return to Ravnica expansion, where their signature guild mechanic is named Extort.

* The Ministry of Paternoster from ''MageTheAwakening'' somehow straddles the line between PathOfInspiration and this trope. On the one hand, the Seers of the Throne did set it up in an effort to make organized religion heavily dogmatic, so that Sleepers would be discouraged from picking at the strands of the Fallen World. On the other hand, they bought all their own hype and ''do'' believe the Exarchs should be worshipped as divine emanations; it's just they believe the Sleepers should also be kept ignorant and blind, and that a Sleeper worshipping one of the Exarchs would be the utmost in profanity.

* The Church of the Instrumentality in Marvel's ''{{ComicBook/Dreadstar}}'' comics, an interplanetary theocracy headed by a cross of Emperor Palpatine and Mongul called Lord Papal.

* The Catholic Church in ''LeScorpion''.

* The Grail in ''{{Preacher}}'', also doubles as a NGOSuperpower.

* ''MagicTheGathering'' has the Orzhov Syndicate from the Ravnica setting. Their [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=96844 Pontiff]] is illustrated in the page image, and lands associated with them include the [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=366302 Godless Shrine]] and the [[ObviouslyEvil tellingly-named]] [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=97206 Orzhova, the Church of Deals]].

* The Wall Cult from ''AttackOnTitan''. They began as an oft-ignored group of zealots that worshiped the Walls as a divine gift, but rapidly gained influence and authority after the loss of Wall Maria. They oppose any and all efforts to strengthen the defenses of the remaining Walls, and advocate for the execution of Eren. [[spoiler: Turns out these efforts are to prevent anyone from learning the truth about the Walls, including that they contain dormant Colossal Titans. How far the conspiracy extends, and just how much they know about the true origins of the Titans, remains a mystery.]]

* In the ''Bastard of Kosigan'' series (''NeverwinterNights'' modules), the Catholic Church as it exists in the game was initiated by Archangel Gabriel so he could have complete totalitarian control over the entire world, not just his majority faction of the immortal precursor humans ('angels') instead of the free will faction ('demons'), led by Elisa Than ('Satan'). The two factions have been at war seeing who could manipulate the political and religious scene of the world to turn more humans to their side.

* One of the oldest example in video game history, ''VideoGame/LunarEternalBlue'' features Lucia, the reincarnated goddess Athena, a NPC who is still an active part of the player's party even in combat, who seeks the help of Athena's church for assistance to defeat an evil reborn enemy Zophar to whom Athena was his sole equal in combat. However, she finds out late in game[[that Zophar had already long subverted the entire church of Athena that was originally dedicated to Athena into a cult that is secretly on the forefront of reviving him to full power. Essentially a variant where the setting's version of Satan has taken control of his rival's own church and using it against said Goddess.]]

* The ''{{Batman}}'' comics introduced us to the Order of St. Dumas, a heretical Catholic sect started during the Crusades by the [[KnightTemplar murderous Swiss knight]] Chartrien Dumas. Dumas went so far as to have his men slaughter emissaries from the Vatican without provocation and declare himself Pope. He also began a tradition of "holy" vigilantism, wherein the title of "Azrael" (a sword-wielding "angel") would assassinate "sinners," often simply as a pretext for seizing their wealth from them. (For centuries, the Order of St. Dumas was - secretly - the single wealthiest organization on Earth.) Fathers prepared their sons to [[TakeUpMySword succeed them]] as the avenging angel, subjecting them to grueling physical training and weird, mind-warping rituals. The heir to this violent tradition, Jean-Paul Valley, moved to Gotham City to attend college and quickly became Bruce Wayne's apprentice. Things went downhill from there...

* The institution of the Magisterium in PhilipPullman's ''HisDarkMaterials''. Distinct from the "thinly-veiled Catholic churches" of fantasy because it's not veiled at all; it is simply the Catholic Church in another dimension. It is one where John Calvin ruled as Pope from Geneva... The last one, because they dissolved the position following his death, opting for a more decentralized structure. Doesn't help that they're not [[spoiler:actually worshiping the Creator of the Universe]], just the [[spoiler:First Angel]], whose spiritual successor, [[spoiler:Metatron]], was really, really hoping to lead a multiverse-wide Super Inquisition under the guise of each universe's Magisterium/Church equivalent.
*** It's worth noting that although it's the antagonistic force in the first novel, the Magisterium isn't inherently evil - just misguided. The General Oblation Board, one faction of the organization mostly dealt with in the novel, however, is close to AlwaysChaoticEvil.
** Curiously, in the film version of ''TheGoldenCompass'', it is by no means clear that the Magisterium ''is'' a church (or how the "dust theory" is incompatible with its doctrines). Nobody involved in it seems to do any preaching, praying, or worshiping. It seems to be simply a heavy authoritarian government. [[ExecutiveMeddling Studios demanded it]]. However, the robes are a giveaway, there's religious imagery on the door Iorek smashes through. Its members wear priestly uniforms and speak of "heresy". It might be ''more'' sinister by not explaining why it's incompatible.

* The Zakarum chose the Guardian Tower where Mephisto was sealed as the place to build their capitol in the ''{{VideoGame/Diablo}}'' universe. This trope is the consequence of their actions; the player-controlled Paladins are still divinely-empowered guardians, but everyone else became Mephisto's pawns.
** The Templar Order of ''DiabloIII'' [[spoiler:tortures and brainwashes new recruits into believing that they used to be criminals and sinners, and have been cleansed so that they can fight for the powers of good]].

* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedBrotherhood'' has the main character Ezio against an evil organization called the Templars, many of which are officials of the Catholic Church. This fits with the Renaissance setting, as the Church was very corrupt at the time. The BigBad of ''Brotherhood'' was actually [[spoiler:a pope in the real world, and he was so corrupt that the next Pope outright stated he was going to Hell]].
** The Templars are the bad guys of the whole ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed''-franchise, not just ''Brotherhood''. Also, their religious nature in the first game is largely a sham, and in the following games they barely even give it a lip service. Ofcourse the same also applies to their sworn enemies, the Assassins who in RealLife were an Ishmaelian sect of Muslims. [[spoiler:The said Pope incidentally is the BigBad of the second game, while in ''Brotherhood'' his son has taken the reins.]]

* The Church of Pardal in part three of David Weber's ''Heirs of Empire'' trilogy exists for the sole purpose of keeping technology at a pre-industrial level. [[WellIntentionedExtremist It was originally created to enforce a quarantine against the spread of a really nasty bioweapon virus]], but it has lasted and dominated the planet of Pardal for at least 9,000 years.

* The Faith of the Seven in ASongOfIceAndFire, has its fair share of corrupt clergymen, especially in the upper echelons (generally the rank-and-file clergy are much nicer, apart from [[PedophilePriest Septon Utt]]). The Most Devout and the High Septon are basically in the pocket of [[BigBad Tywin Lannister]], not to mention being extremely hypocritical (frequenting whorehouses and feasting while the city starves). In ''A Feast For Crows'', a [[TheFundamentalist new High Septon]] puts a stop to this sort of thing, although even he is prepared to ignore the allegations of incest (one of the deadliest sins in the Faith) surrounding the parentage of King Tommen I Baratheon in return for the Faith being allowed to reconstitute its old [[ChurchMilitant private armies.]]

* Karse in the HeraldsOfValdemar series is a theocracy. At first everything was fine, but then it became corrupt, and stayed that way for close to a millennium until Vkandis Sunlord decided to make his displeasure known, and a BoltOfDivineRetribution later, rearranged the Church.

* The Obligators from ''{{Mistborn}}'' are an odd example. Though nominally a priesthood, they function more as bureacrats and politicians, being much more interested in administering TheEmpire and palying political games with [[AristocratsAreEvil the nobility]] and each other than in tending to people's spiritual needs. Turns out that [[GodEmperor their god]] couldn't be happier with them- ''he'' cares more about running an empire than about true faith, and designed his religion accordingly.