I think the series was supposed to be NBC's answer to "Desperate Housewives" which, while not being family entertainment, does have a Catholic priest on the show at times who says some very sensible things and is not portrayed as a hypocrite or a pedophile. They have introduced a new character (a nun, I guess) this year who seems to be striking up an affair with Gabrielle's husband under the guise of doing missionary work in Africa but it is hard to see exactly where that storyline is going yet.
The portrayal of the Catholic priest by the marvelous Charles Durning on "Everybody Loves Raymond" was always pretty good too.