reading about Catholic and Jewish culture

DW and I have started reading Kemelman's "Rabbi" series. You know starting with "Friday the Rabbi came late". You learn a whole lot about Jewish culture. I'd say Kemelman gets it wrong a bit when he has his character comment on the dominate Christian culture. But it may be how a Jewish person sees it. But it's the view of an outsider. Some of it is over generalized at least.

So now I have picked up a "Father Dowling" mystery by Ralph McInerny. In these you get a glimpse of a Catholic parish culture.

I remember the short lived TV series based on this character and starring the wonderful Tom Bosley. Bosley was a great character actor with an amazing voice. In our house we wished it had stayed on the year longer. It was just so fun. The TV show has a fairly cute nun for a side kick. There was also a housekeeper played by the venerable Mary Wickes. She is also in the book and seems to be a similar character one who will get a lot of punch lines.

Funny in both of them the best friend of the man of the cloth is a small time sheriff or police officer. I guess that is a good point of contact for a person who is going to solve murder mysteries.