I had this nifty idea for a cleric I made.

He was originally a drug addict who, while under the influence, attempted to rob a shop so he could buy more drugs. He ends up robbing a store in the middle of a real robbery. The arbites come, there's a shoot out. He escapes on his motor bike while the rest of the other criminals die.

The arbites believe him the mastermind and put up wanted posters for his arrest. He becomes infamous, and attracts the attention of a local motor gang.

After some fast talking, they decide not to kill him and he joins their gang. A year or so passes as he tries to get more drugs whilst not getting shot. His time spent with the gang is sort of like Ciaphas Cain, but where he gains infamy.

Eventually he gets caught at the end of a horrible vehical chase. During the chase, he prays to the emperor that if he spare him he'll repent for all the crap he's caused.

In exchange for not excuting him, or sending him to a penal colony, he cuts a deal; He'll use his fast talkin' ways, and connections to help bring down some of the local big time crime syndicates. In exchange he'll live out his sentance in the ecclesiarchies watch.

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Would they allow this? A criminal to enter the holy halls and become one of them after repenting for what he's done? This could also be another way of penance.

He eventually became one of those clerics that whips themselves. If that helps.

Might be a slight stretch, but it's a very interesting background and I'd definetly go with it as long as your GM gives the go ahead. There'd likely be some sect of the Ecclessiarchy that would let you repent through service.

Short answer:
Yes.

Knee-jerk answer:
It depends on the planet.

Slightly longer answer:
Not only dose it depend on the planet, it could depend on the community, the local priests, the bishop of the planet and what order/sect within the ecclesearchy he belongs to, the cardinal of that chunk of space, their sect and beliefs, the political situation that the cardinal is embroiled in, the political situation the bishop is stuck in, the political situation that has rolled down hill to the priests, whether anyone above the ranking of "priest" even knows about this, who the planetary governor is, what his son is up to, and even more things that are just not worth mentioning. The short answer is really a lot better then the slightly longer one really.

The idea of criminal becoming a cleric is a interesting concept. He/She could have been forced to join the Ecclessiarchy becuase of a crime. He would more than likely be forced to wear a explosive color. He would still have the tendancy to steal, loot, ect. But with him being a cleric, the leader of men as described in the core manuel, he would find new ways to have 'fun' with his ne job such as exploiting the lower class for money and a work force. He could potentially mak a break away sect of the Ecclessiarchy on the planet that would support the usage of drugs saying that the drugs are the 'gifts' of the Emperor

@ OP - it is certainly possible. Some parts of the Imperial cult would be interested in redeeming such wretches (as opposed to heretics or worse), and either ignore their past life as long as the scum makes a clean break or, alternatively, use it. Besides, who better to spread the Faith to the gutters than one who was born there?

Plus, there is another option - the PC could try keeping his past life a secret, say becoming an apprentice of sorts to a traveling preacher. It is possible his master won't ask too many questions as long as the disciple's faith is pure.