Are the Simpsons Catholic?

Vatican says so, creator disagrees

CATHY HAYES,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 4:27 AM

Updated Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 7:19 AM

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The all American family "The Simpsons"

The producer of “The Simpsons” has denied that Homer and, his son, Bart are Catholics following the Vatican’s claims.

Al Jean said “My first reaction is shock and awe, and I guess it makes up for me not going to church for 20 years.” Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, he added that the First Church of Springfield, where Reverend Lovejoy presides, is “decidedly Presbylutheran.”

Jean’s comments came after the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, said “Few people know it and he does everything to hide it but it is true: Homer J. Simpson is Catholic.”

The article quoted an analysis by Rev. Francesco Occhetta, a Jesuit priest. The priest discusses a conversation between Bart and Homer in 2005 after meeting with Father Sean, a sympathetic priest, played by Liam Neeson.

The analysis showed that the TV show’s jokes are “linked to the sense and quality of life”. It said “‘The Simpsons’ remain among the few programs for children in which the Christian faith, religion and the question of God are recurring themes…The family recites prayers together before meals and, in its own way, believes in heaven.”

L’Osservatore Romano’s article made no reference to the fact that the cartoon regularly makes fun of religious figures and it said that parents should not be afraid to let their children watch “the adventures of the little guys in yellow”.

Al Jean however did not agree. In response he said “We’ve pretty clearly shown that Homer is not Catholic…I really don’t think he could go without eating meat on Fridays for even an hour.”

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jacersagain | Oct 20, 2010, 07:23 PM EDT

(.../contd) I loved the phrase ‘presbylutheran’ btw – lovely literary (i.e. fictional) expression - typical of anti-Catholic writers, including those of the Gospel according to the Simpsons and of the Irish Times (from which btw ICentral’s Cathy Hayes plagiarised the story above! Hee (big ‘H’) hee (small ‘h’) – gotcha Cathy!) against the True Catholic Church of Christ. PS – don’t forget to say your Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be and Angel o' God ‘afore ye go to sleep tonight, all catholic (small ‘c’) prayers. You’ll be rewarded in some way by the God (very definitely a big ‘G’ there ) of us all.

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jacersagain | Oct 20, 2010, 07:18 PM EDT

Towngate and other posters - I had a great chuckle over the Vatican’s media people claiming some of the Simpsons were at-heart Catholics (with a capital ‘C’). I hafta agree to some extent though. All ‘Western’ and near-Western (big ‘w’s) people are descended from, or have deep-rooted connections with the universal and catholic (small ‘c’) Catholic Church (‘big ‘C’s). After all, it was a Church Founded By Jesus Christ (bigs all the way there) but broken up by men (small ‘m’) and women (small ‘w’) who thought they knew better (and many still do believe) than He Himself (big ‘H’s’). So no matter what way one looks at it, all ‘Western’ homers (small ‘h’) and barts (small ‘b’ – aren’t we lucky they didn’t call him Barf?) are defi-nightly and defi-morningly prayerful, catholic (definitely with a small ‘c’) people. The Vatican (big ‘v’) newspaper is humorously right, once again, whatever Mr. Al Jean thinks. (More/...)

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PolinDeB | Oct 20, 2010, 06:22 PM EDT

Ah Bart and Homer became Catholic for an episode..still Catholic church getting weirder every day..

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dragonladyleanne | Oct 20, 2010, 05:13 PM EDT

Never mind whether they are Catholic, Protestant, Jewish or Atheist - the Church thinks this is a show for KIDS?! The political and religious satire (which is often excellent)goes right over most youngsters' heads, but they well understand that choking someone who annoys you is both acceptable and funny. And here I was blaming the parents for the boorish behavior of our newest crop of elementary students! And yes, I teach, and yes, I am a parent. My children were not allowed to watch the Simpsons, or any of the various "adult" themed cartoons until they were old enough to discuss the social. historical and or political issues being satirized.

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citizen69 | Oct 20, 2010, 11:57 AM EDT

Ah well, you've still got Peter Griffin from Family Guy!

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rhunter67 | Oct 20, 2010, 11:43 AM EDT

Homer and Bart thought about converting to Catholicism, five years ago, but in the end were pulled back to 'Presbylutheranism.' The episode mentioned above shows, if anything, that there still are issues between Catholics and Protestants in this country. See Marge's dream of Protestant Heaven (with WASPs in sweaters playing croquet) and Catholic Heaven (with fighting Irish, Latin American fiesta and love-crazed Italians--with each group being essentially drunk). But in the end, Homer and Bart aren't Catholic.

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antoman | Oct 20, 2010, 10:13 AM EDT

I've always viewed the simpsons as an accurate documentary portraying life in America.

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joma5004 | Oct 20, 2010, 09:38 AM EDT

Typical Vatican BS to try to move the public away from the SEX SCANDAL in the church!

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joanmoody | Oct 20, 2010, 08:56 AM EDT

How many Catholics eat meat on Friday's, a lot I would say with the exception of Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

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Towngate | Oct 20, 2010, 06:43 AM EDT

Catholic only with a small 'c' - the humour and subject matter being universal and all-embracing. - Brilliant mirror held up to humanity. Long live!!