http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=639877Belfast Telegraph Home > News
Doh! Liam's crusade to convert the Simpsons
By Maureen Coleman
20 May 2005
Ulster actor Liam Neeson is to guest star in the Simpsons as an Irish priest converting the cartoon family to Catholicism.The episode in which Neeson's character Fr Sean encourages Homer and Bart to turn Catholic has already gone out on US television and will be shown on Sky this summer.
It was due to be shown in America earlier, but had to be rescheduled due to the death of Pope John II.
In one scene Homer says: "Catholics Rule! We've got Boston, South America and the good part of Ireland."
In another scene involving a dream sequence, Marge ends up in Protestant heaven where people in polo shirts are playing badminton, while Homer's living it up in Catholic heaven - a massive Irish bar full of Riverdancers and brawling.
Jesus himself is portrayed as being in Catholic heaven.
When talking about Mass, Marge is heard to say: "It's like Simon Says without a winner."
According to website messages posted by US viewers who have already watched it, the episode featuring Neeson is funny but inoffensive.
One viewer says: "In the end, it's a general swipe at religion as a whole, but the Catholics come out looking more diverse and fun-loving."
Another viewer said: "The episode was rather pro-Catholic and a surprising amount of Catholic dogma was described accurately."
The show also refers to Catholic beliefs and practices such as confession, natural family planning and transubstantiation.
A spokesman for the Catholic Church declined to comment on the show, adding that he had never watched the Simpsons on TV.