Vatican Praises The Simpsons' Take on God

The Vatican's newspaper sees right through Homer Simpson’s superficial ambivalence about—or even ignorance of—God to a soul that finds its “ultimate refuge in” the supreme deity. In a study of that great theological repository, The Simpsons, the editors of L'Osservatore Romano praise its portrayal of “modern people's indifference toward and great need for the sacred.” And Homer is all of us.

L'Osservatore points out the deftness with which The Simpsons illustrates “the religious and spiritual confusion of our times,” reports Catholic News Service. For instance, in one episode, Homer looks skyward and pleads: “I'm usually not a religious man, but if you're up there, save me, Superman." While the sorrow and confusion may be real, Homer’s hilarious gaffe is just a feint. “In reality the two know each other quite well.” They do know Homer once called Jesus "Jebus," right? (More L'Osservatore Romano stories.)