Why do so many novels, dramas and soaps portray clergymen as comic, hypocrites or villains? It’s hard to say who started the fashion. Perhaps Geoffrey Chaucer who, in his Canterbury Tales, portrays his ‘Pardoner’ and ‘Summoner’ as deeply corrupt and abusing their offices for personal gain. His Monk and Prioress live lives of luxury and have no spiritual depth. The latter tells a deeply anti-Semitic tale.
Jane Austen came from a family of clergymen and, although many of the clergy in her novels are innocuous, the famous Mr Collins, from Pride and Prejudice is an unlovely character; obsequious and flattering to his social superiors as well as boring and conceited. Mr Elton, the vain vicar in Emma, is not much better.
Father Ted and The Vicar of Dibley rate amongst the most popular British sitcoms. Father Ted Crilly is a morally dubious character who regularly resorts to lying and cheating and has no regard for religion. He lives with the simple minded Father Dougal and the drink sodden Father Jack.
Geraldine Granger, the vicar of Dibley, has redeeming features but she is a farcical character who uses bad language and indulges in much behavior unbecoming of a vicar. Both sitcoms, in the service of comedy, make out clergy and religious people to be comic and ridiculous.