Responses
Cuz the church is a shady institution in real life, same for certain practices of real world religions. Its not too far off from the real world, especially when the church as an institution has part in secular power.
It's not too far from stuff that actually happens, but would love to see less religion in stuff in general.
He is shady alright. Dang! Why is it that almost all fantasy novels have shady church/religion?