What drew you to read this column? Was it the outrageous headline?
If so, you’re not alone — an attention-grabbing title was probably what the Vatican’s newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, also counted on with its recent article, “Homer and Bart are Catholic.”
In the Oct. 17 issue, Rev. Francesco Occhetta commends the 22-year-old animated sitcom “The Simpsons” for its recurrent themes of “Christian faith, religion and questions about God” — a justified, harmless observation.
But Occhetta also declares Homer Simpson to be a “true Catholic” — a verbal baptism, which bewildered Roman Catholics, non-believers and Al Jean, the show’s executive producer.
Jean quickly pointed out the characters belong to the fictional church of “Presbylutheranism.”
He also brandished his personal denunciation of the Church years ago — essentially biting the hand that praised him.
It’s crucial to realize Occhetta’s article came from the Vatican’s newspaper, not one of Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclicals.
But with such an eye-catching headline, the story naturally went viral, and fewer people were able — or willing — to make the distinction.
It takes extreme determination to sort through all the out-of-context quotes, sensational headlines and mainstream media interpretations to find the author’s initial purpose.
Many ideas were also lost in translation from the original Italian article to the snippets cited in most major English-speaking newspapers worldwide.
The Vatican’s subsequent silence hasn’t clarified things, though the lack of response can be interpreted as a statement in itself.
The pope isn’t the editor-in-chief of L’Osservatore Romano, but perhaps he should be.
Better yet, the Vatican shouldn’t even have a secular newspaper — it will only succumb to the “scandal sells” mentality plaguing the rest of the journalism industry.
This most recent foray into pop culture proves it.
Then again, this may be precisely what the Vatican ordered when it hired Giovanni Maria Vian as editor in 2007.
Vian told the Wall Street Journal his duty — as established by Pope Benedict XVI — was to revive the nearly 150-year-old paper’s declining readership and liven its strict theological reputation with more cultural content.
His will be done: L’Osservatore Romano has since commented on “Avatar,” The Beatles and “Harry Potter.”
But the paper has taken a particular liking to “The Simpsons.”
This latest L’Osservatore Romano article is a follow-up to a similar praise piece from December 2009.
As a Catholic, I’m slightly offended some Vatican higher-ups felt obligated to trivialize my faith with pop culture to make it “relevant.”
But disregarding my personal problem with this pronouncement, it just doesn’t make sense.
There’s no coherent logic to Occhetta’s argument, unless simply praying before meals and discussing religious issues defines a Catholic.
This just in: It doesn’t.
Praise for exemplary Catholics in Hollywood is always refreshing, but “The Simpsons” isn’t what I had in mind.
With the evidence given by Occhetta and the Vatican, the bold statement has served its real purpose — a publicity stunt.
I’m not bashing my religion or its leaders — I’m merely pleading for clarification.
Questioning the Vatican’s newspaper isn’t grounds for excommunication.
In fact, if I’m interpreting Occhetta’s “The Simpsons” assessment correctly, the ability to admit doubt makes someone even more Catholic.
This whole episode also suggests any pop culture reference to the Catholic Church is praiseworthy — even the derogatory jokes often found on “The Simpsons.”
But if viewers just get the satirized version of Catholicism, I’d rather “The Simpsons” not mention it at all.
The Church must realize its core principles of faith are meant to be timeless, not to be contorted and popularized with every generation.
The Mass is solemn. It’s unpopular with popular culture. And I’m perfectly OK with that. I just wish the Vatican could better embrace its own traditions.
I’m glad the pope has a sense of humor. Just don’t take L’Osservatore Romano’s word — or “The Simpsons” — as the new Gospel.
Kelly Hotard is a 19-year-old mass communication sophomore from Picayune, Miss. Follow her on Twitter @TDR_khotard.
—-
Contact Kelly Hotard at [email protected]