The Vatican and Homer Simpson
As it dealt with its myriad public relations problems — from potential heretics to the child abuse scandal — the Holy See apparently decided to declare that one of the world's most popular, if bizarre, families was among the faithful. In October, L'Osservatore Romano, which is the semi-official organ of the Vatican, citing an essay in a Jesuit publication, argued that Homer Simpson and his family were Catholic — despite several plot points that seem to show that, if Homer were religious at all, he was more likely Protestant (or as a producer of The Simpsons clarified, "presbylutheran"). Nevertheless, the Jesuit author of the original essay pointed out an episode ("The Father, the Son, and the Holy Guest Star") that had Homer and his son Bart attracted to Catholicism. A lot of fuss over wishful thinking.