History Main / AnimeCatholicism

* '''Although, as someone who had 11 years of Catholic education, it is pretty accurate with some stuff. Although I'm pretty sure that Exorcists don't go to a magic academy.

* Subverted in AssassinsCreed. Sister Teodora is a nun... who wears a low-cut black dress, and is also a prostitute, a member of the Assassin Order, and the owner of a whorehouse. However, it's made clear this is not normal behavior for a sister, and she has a very well-thought-out argument for her unique combination of profession and beliefs.

->The religion is extremely Catholic-esque to the point that actual Bible verses may be quoted, but is referred to as 'The Church', and not expressly stated to be Catholic. It may be implied that it is the ''only'' church in this world, and there aren't denominations like Catholicism.

* ''AoNoExorcist'' lives and breathes this trope. Shounen + ReligiousHorror + Exorcists usually results in this...

* ''Literature/{{FateZero}}'' The Holy Grail is a sentient entity which initiates periodic sorcerous tournament-like wars. Magic-wielding priests referee and participate in these wars.

!!!AnimeTropes
->Will feature anime tropes, obviously, which might look strange to some people who aren't used to seeing the Church with a distinctly anime bent. And will definitely seem strange when all the western priests seem to be weirdly familiar with Japanese culture.

!!!YouFailReligiousStudiesForever

* In NasuVerse, the Roman Catholic Church wields powerful magecraft on par with the Mage's Association... though it's really only effective if you [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve believe in the faith]]. Not only that, there are some members of the church who engage in rather questionable behavior, like an [[ChurchMilitant Executor]] [[{{Tsukihime}} having a fetish for anal sex]] or a priest who [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight attempts to summon all the evils in the world]] for his own amusement. [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking There's also apparently no rule against priests marrying or having children.]]

* ''Manga/SailorMoon'' has something of a subtle example in the episode of the anime where Diana turns up. While the nun everyone believes Artemis is "having an affair with" recites a standard Catholic prayer and seems to be saying things that a real Catholic nun would say, no one bats an eyelash at the idea that a nun would break her vows of chastity to have an affair with anyone--let alone a talking cat.

* Subverted in Assassin's Creed. Sister Teodora is a nun... who wears a low-cut black dress, and is also a prostitute, a member of the Assassin Order, and the owner of a whorehouse. However, it's made clear this is not normal behavior for a sister, and she has a very well-thought-out argument for her unique combination of profession and beliefs.

* ''{{FateZero}}'' The Holy Grail is a sentient entity which initiates periodic sorcerous tournament-like wars. Magic-wielding priests referee and participate in these wars.

Japan (and other manga producing countries, such as [[{{Manhwa}} Korea]] and [[{{Manhua}} China]]), not having a large population of Christians (well, not counting Korea), neither especially know, or care about the accuracy of depiction of The Church or Church-based organizations in their writing. When it shows up, the Church is predominantly there to provide a sense of foreignness and implying a fantastical setting or backdrop to the story, with the importance of correctness being secondary at best, and more likely not even to factor into their priorities. The same is true of CrystalDragonJesus Fantasy versions that are meant to be highly reminiscent of Catholicism, and while it's true that FantasyCounterpartCulture versions have more leeway in terms of accuracy, it doesn't really excuse a lot of the other common elements in their depictions.

->Women and men are not segregated in their roles, there may even be female priests or a female pope.

* {{Priest}}: a Manhwa about an immortal BadassPreacher.

* ''{{Tactics}}'' subverts this trope at least partially: the main, Kantarou, is a Shinto exorcist/Japanese folklore expert who becomes involved with the Catholic Church at one point as an interpreter. While it is somewhat odd that he seems to take part in giving mass (down to wearing absurdly cool clothes) bits of the gospels are actually accurately quoted and the overall goal seems to be the protection and propagation of the Christian faith on Japanese soil. [[spoiler: Of course one of the priests turns out to be a mage of sorts who mistakes Haruka for Lucifer and tries to re-awaken him to his devil nature by using a magic circle drawn with blood and sacrificing children. Turns out he was not a real priest either.]]
* Sailor Moon has something of a subtle example in the episode of the anime where Diana turns up. While the nun everyone believes Artemis is "having an affair with" recites a standard Catholic prayer and seems to be saying things that a real Catholic nun would say, no one bats an eyelash at the idea that a nun would break her vows of chastity to have an affair with anyone--let alone a talking cat.

!!!CastFullOfPrettyBoys and PinkBishoujoGhetto

* Subverted in Assassin's Creed. Sister Teodora is a nun... who wears a low-cut black dress, and is also a prostitute, a member of the Assassin Order, and the owner of a whorehouse. However, it's made clear this is not normal behavior for a sister, and she has a very well-thought-out argument for her unique combination of profession and beliefs.

[[AC: VideoGames]]

* ''GhostHunt'' includes a teenage Catholic priest who helps banish actual ghosts.

So you are watching an anime and here comes a little kid in some interesting, religious-looking robes and...wait, this pre-teen is supposed to be a Catholic priest? But, little kids can't be priests! That isn't typical Catholic priestly attire, either, that thing looks like it's made of 100% pure RuleOfCool, and...oh look he's pulling out guns and shooting up a bar. And there's a nun sidekick whose casting magic spells. What's she doing out of her cloister, anyway?

* In NasuVerse, the Roman Catholic Church wields powerful magecraft on par with the Mage's Association... though it's really only effective if you [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve believe in the faith]]. Not only that, there are some members of the church who engage in rather questionable behavior, like an [[ChurchMilitant Executor]] [[{{Tsukihime}} having a fetish for anal sex]] or a priest who [[FateStayNight attempts to summon all the evils in the world]] for his own amusement. [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking There's also apparently no rule against priests marrying or having children.]]

If you know anything remotely about Catholicism, or western religions in general, then when this trope shows up, you'll know it. Suddenly every priest will be a vampire hunter, the clergy will be completely [[BlueBishonenGhetto populated by hot, young bishounen]] and everything about the structure, hierarchy, history or religious beliefs will obviously be [[DidNotDoTheResearch completely wrong]] to even people who aren't Catholic and are only peripherally aware of what the Catholic Church is about.

!!!BlueBishonenGhetto and PinkBishoujoGhetto

*** Funnily enough, all of that (apart from the female cardinal) did actually happen.