Vatican Newspaper Praises 'The Simpsons'

(Dec. 23) -- Apparently, someone at the Vatican has watched their fair share of "The Simpsons."

In an article published on Tuesday in L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper had some nice things to say about America's longest-running prime time TV series, and had criticism for those who would simply discount its often-irreverent take on modern family life. Here's how Catholic News Service translated a portion of L'Osservatore Romano's article:

"Rigid censors turn off the television," when the Fox program comes on, "but the more serious analysts praise the realism and intelligence of its scripts, even if they often attack -- and rightly so -- the crude language and violence of some episodes."

According to Catholic News Service, the Vatican paper went on to describe "The Simpsons" as "tender and irreverent, scandalous and ironic, boisterous and profound, philosophical -- and sometimes even theological -- nutty synthesis of pop culture and of the lukewarm and nihilistic American middle class."

Clearly, somebody in the Catholic Church has been paying attention to the series. In fact, the paper goes on to discuss the show in terms of its theological viewpoint, too:

"Simultaneously reflecting modern people's indifference toward and great need for the sacred, Homer ... finds his ultimate refuge in God."

The idea of the Vatican newspaper taking the time to comment on a cartoon television show is pretty unusual. In fact, it has has all the makings of a pretty good "Simpsons" episode.