Vatican Newspaper On Homer Simpson The Catholic -English Translation and Clarification

Ugh I hate when L'Osservatore Romano does this because Headlines will scream POPE"S NEWSPAPER SAY HOMER SIMPSON IS CATHOLIC or some other nonsense.

Ilsismografo has reposted the article here Homer e Bart sono cattolici / I Simpson e la religione

Now Google translate seems to be improving and there is a readable translation I am going to put up. Now lets be clear that they are reporting on an artice that "The Catholic Civilization." which is a influential Italian Jesuit publication did. So it's not like this is the paper's view. Still it is a interesting piece

Homer and Bart are Catholics / The Simpsons and Religion L'Osservatore Romano
(Luke M. Possati) Few people know this, and he does everything to hide it. But it's true: Homer J. Simpson is Catholic. And if it was not a vocation - a blinding accomplice pint of "Duff" - we missed very little.

So much so that today the king of donuts in Springfield does not hesitate to exclaim that "Catholicism is legendary." But then change their minds in a cathartic "D'oh!".The joke - is the episode "Father, Son and Spirit Practical," in which Homer and Bart are converted through an encounter with the friendly father Sean - is the starting point of the interesting article in The Simpsons and the religion of his father Francis appeared Occhetta in the latest edition of "The Catholic Civilization." The influential Italian Jesuit magazine draws a fine ethical and anthropological analysis of the cartoon at the same time seizing the opportunity - this is the most important - to give some practical advice to parents and children.

It is undisputed that the series created by Matt Groening brought into the world of cartoon language and narrative a revolution without precedent. Abandoned the reassuring distinction between good and evil is typical of production "happy ending" of Disney, Homer & Company have opened a Pandora's box.

The result was surreal comedy, satire, sarcasm on the worst taboo of the American way of life and distorting an icon of Western idiosyncrasies. But beware, there are other levels of interpretation. "Every episode - writes Occhetta - behind the satire and the many jokes that make you smile, open issues related to the anthropological sense and quality of life" (p. 144).

Issues such as the inability to communicate and reconciliation, education and the education system, marriage and family. And do not miss politics. Bone of contention, religion. What about the presence of the sound of Homer snoring during the sermons of Reverend Lovejoy? And what about the perennial humiliations inflicted on the pathetic Neddy Flanders, the evangelical orthodox? Thin unjustifiable criticism or blasphemy? "The Simpsons - Occhetta claims - remain among the few TV programs for children in which the Christian faith, religion and the question of God are recurring themes" (p. 145).

The family say the prayers before meals and, in its own way, believes in the afterlife "and she is the means by which the faith is transmitted. The satire, however, "rather than involve the various Christian denominations overwhelms the evidence and the credibility of some men in church." Let me be clear, the dangers exist, because "the laxity and lack of interest that may arise to educate even more young people to a private law relationship with God" (p. 146). But a grain of salt is necessary to separate the good from the grass weeds. Parents need not fear for their children to watch the adventures of the little men in yellow.

Indeed, the realism of the texts and episodes "could be the opportunity to watch a few episodes together, and to grasp the ideas to talk about family life, school, couple, social and political" (p. 148). In the stories of Simpson skeptical realism prevails, so "the younger generation of viewers are educated not to deceive themselves "(p. 148). The moral? None. But you know, a world devoid of easy illusions is a more humane world, and perhaps more Christian.(© L'Osservatore Romano - 17 October 2010)