The new TV show Book of Daniel generated controversy even before it was first shown. While the creators don't see what the problem is, I can see why it should be expected that people will complain.

In the first place, whenever churches and church leaders are shown on TV there are people who complain because what is shown doesn't match what those people expect. Usually only the most bland, non-denominational pastor/priest types can be shown without someone complaining (think 7th Heaven).

Secondly, this show definitly portrays the pastor as not being a perfect person, something many lay people don't want to admit about their own clergy. At this point I intend to reveal all sorts of plot points, so if you don't want to hear spoilers, don't read the rest of this.

Beyond just "not perfect," this family seems to be a drawing card for constant controversy. The father is addicted to prescription pain killers. The daughter was caught selling pot (not smoking it, just selling it as a way to raise some money). One son comes out of the closet in the first episode (which the parents are OK with, even though I get the impression (having missed the beginning and the actual coming out event) that they hadn't suspected it until they were told). While I think showing a loving acceptance of their son is good, there are certainly many who are not happy about anything that hints that GLBT folk can be acceptable as normal people. The second (adopted) son is caught in a compromising position with the daughter of an influential and contentious member of the congregation. The father's mother is suffering from Alzheimer's which seems to be the one problem the family is encountering which is not something which could be considered in any way blame worthy. However, the father's father (himself a Bishop) is having an affair with the other Bishop we have met on the show who supervises the star of the show. While married. With an ailing wife. We also see said supervisory Bishop planning to tell a lie and expecting the priest to go along with it.

However, all of that is not enough to hang a TV show on. The actual plot involves the priest's brother-in-law (priest's wife's sister's husband) who was recommended by the priest for a position of trust, betraying that trust by stealing the $3,000,000 building fund and running off with his secretary. Then the BIL was found dead in unsavory circumstances (no money found). Then the secretary shows up and starts having an affair with the sister-in-law, the new widow. Turns out there had been some three-way action between the SIL, BIL, and secretary. I guess this part of the show was supposed to be part of the comedic elements of the show.

But back to the main plot, the missing millions. Rather than risk a scandal by going to the police, the priest goes to the Roman Catholic priest and gets him to serve as a go-between with the mob in order to get them to find the money. Which they do. But they will "lose" it again unless they can name the company to get the contract for the new building for which the $3 million was raised. So in addition to the scandals the show is portraying among the Episcopalean leadership, the show also implicates the Catholic church as being practically a front for organized crime.

Yet the creators don't think anyone will find this objectionable? What fantasy world have they been living in?