Friday Frivolity: Catholic Simpsons

The relationship between “The Simpsons” and religion has always been a rather interesting one.  There was a bit of a hoopla in the press and blogsophere recently when an article in the Vatican newsletter, L’Osservatore Romano, had the headline “Homer and Bart are Catholics”.  It was a silly piece which caused, in my opinion, a lot of fuss about nothing.

Having said that, the article was in reference to an analysis done by a certain Fr. Francesco Occhetta which concerned one of my favourite Simpsons episodes: “The Father, the Son, and the Holy Guest Star”, where Homer and Bart come into contact with the Catholic Church.  So, for this week’s “Friday Fivolity”, here are some of my favourite quotations from that episode…

Marge: “All of that standing, sitting and kneeling…It’s like ‘Simon Says’ without a winner!”

Marge:“Catholics can be a peculiar bunch. No birth control, no meat on Friday…”

Homer:“No MEAT?! What do they eat, light bulbs?!”

Homer:“Face it, Marge. Catholics rule! We got Boston, South America, the good part of Ireland, and we’re makin’ serious inroads in Mozambique, baby!”

Marge:“Homer, you’ve been gone all night—and you look like you accepted someone as your personal something. Were you at that Catholic Church?”
Homer:“Look, I know I was supposed to yell at that priest, but he’s so cool! He plays drums in a band with a bunch of other priests!”
Marge:“I knew they’d try to convert you! That’s what they do! Well, I’m not having another twelve kids.”
Homer:“Marge, no one’s saying twelve. Nine, ten, tops!” (Gets out a pamphlet entitled ‘Plop ’til You Drop’)

Bart:“This is a Catholic church. Chicks got no authority here”

Bart:“Don’t you get it? It’s all Christianity, people! The little, stupid differences are nothing next to the big stupid similarities!”

Homer: (after finishing confession) “Woo-hoo, I’m clean! In your face, Lord!“
Fr. Sean:“Not yet, Mr. Simpson. I can only absolve you if you’re a Catholic”
Homer:“Uh-huh. And how do I join? Do I whale on some Unitarians?”
Fr. Sean:“Well, it’s a little harder than that. It starts with looking deep inside yourself…” (Homer groans) “But it ends with bread and wine”
Homer:“Woo-hoo!”

A slight “oopsie” when they had Ned, an Evangelical, praying before the statue of a Saint…

I hope you enjoy.  Now, since it’s Friday, I’m off to go and eat some light bulbs… [wave]

UPDATE 01-Feb-2021: