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Passions
From the show's debut in 1999, it was clear that religion played a large role in the lives of certain female characters. For example, in one of the first episodes, Passions opens with the rich debutante Sheridan Crane crying an emotional prayer. She has reason to believe her life is at risk and turns to her faith to guide her. Sheridan is shown to be respectful of religion, often seen praying and confessing sins to the resident priest Father Lonigan.
Other women, however, like Pilar Lopez-Fitzgerald illustrate their unwavering faith through their actions and words. Pilar, a hard-working mother of 5, is shown on several occassions to light candles for each missing family member, after which she prays for them to return home. Through all her hardship and strife, Pilar clings to her faith to see her through.
Pilar is also shown to have strong morals, as seen when her daughter Theresa is considering aborting her unborn child. Pilar, belonging to the Catholic Church, demands that Theresa allow the child to be born citing the beliefs of the Church as the main reason against abortion. Pilar appears to be the Harmony resident who spends the most time praying and following the teachings of the Church.
Grace Bennett (note the first name) is another female character one would describe as spiritual and even saintly. She, too, has been shown to have a close relationship with Father Lonigan and to participate in frequent prayer. Grace, in earlier years, also experienced episodes during which she could sense that something terrible was about to happen. It seems as though the writers gave the saintly Grace a supernatural power to sense evil. She often prayed: "Oh Lord, Oh God. I feel like evil---like evil is all around me." Grace Bennett's identical twin sister, Faith Standish (note the first name again) was very deeply religious, while perhaps not saintly as her sister was. Faith, before her death, had decorated her house with numerous crosses and religious symbols and was found in daily prayer, often praying safety from - what else - evil: "Dear God, please protect my daughter Charity and me from whatever is out there."
Nun: Oh, God always answers our prayers. He just doesn't always give us the answer we're seeking. But it is an answer nonetheless. And you'll hear it if you listen closely and you open your heart.
Eve: Yes, Miss Know-it-all. I guess you should have been the doctor and I should have been the town saint.
Kay: Father Lonigan, I can't believe it. I have my soul back. I feel so wonderful.
Father Lonigan: You have confessed your sins. And once you have done your penance, your soul will be pristine. You can keep it that way, but only if you change your ways.
Kay: OK. I want to be good, Father. I won't go after Miguel anymore.
Father Lonigan: May God be with you my child. And may the Lord give you strength to forsake the forces of darkness.
Tabitha: I need to put a muzzle on that man of the cloth.
Kay: I can do this. I'm going to be good. I'm going to be good.
Tabitha(to herself): Hopefully Kay will soon learn that being good isn't all it's cracked up to be.