Vatican newspaper lauds 'The Simpsons'
October 18, 2010
The Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, evidently determined to shed its reputation as stolid and sensible, has praised the television show The Simpsons as among the few TV programs for children in which Christian faith, religion, and questions about God are recurrent themes.”
The remarkable Vatican accolade for a lowbrow television show captured the interest of the mass media and generated dozens of headlines, crowding out coverage of such other weekend events as the canonization of 6 new saints, the Synod of Bishops, and the Pope’s letter to seminarians. The media treated the L’Osservatore Romano article with humor and sarcarsm. A typical piece in the Daily Telegraph carried the subhead:
He is an idle pea-brained glutton with a permanent craving for doughnuts and Duff beer, but Homer Simpson has been declared a true Catholic by the Vatican's official newspaper.
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Further information:
- Homer e Bart sono cattolici (L'Osservatore Romano)
- Is The Pope Catholic? Is Homer Simpson? (FoxNews)
- Homer Simpson a Catholic? Must be following Stephen Colbert's lead (Washington Post)
- Homer Simpson: A True Catholic? (Time)
- Homer Simpson 'is a true Catholic' (Daily Telegraph)
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Posted by: hartwood01 -
Oct. 19, 2010 7:11 PM ET USA
Ahhh,L'Osservatore Romano has been into the weed again! How embarrassing for Catholicism.
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Posted by: umpynelson3459 -
Oct. 19, 2010 10:12 AM ET USA
I agree full heartedly that the Holy See's newspaper needs to be straightened out. There is certainly enough to write about of a serious nature that they don't need all the nonsense.
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Posted by: garedawg -
Oct. 18, 2010 9:16 PM ET USA
I enjoy the Simpsons, since I believe that satire and humor are good for the soul and laughter keeps us humble. But referring to "Christian faith, religion, and questions about God" as "recurring themes" is a bit of a stretch.
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Posted by: Lucius49 -
Oct. 18, 2010 8:13 PM ET USA
The Pope has to step in to stop the decline of the Holy See's newspaper. This pandering to the pop culture with praise for rock groups, the Simpsons, etc. is unworthy of the Holy See. There should be serious commentary according to Catholic principles on the news of the day and theological reflection not this puerile attempt to be relevant.
