Simpsons Postpone Episode Out Of Respect To Late Pope
April 20, 2005

Hector Duarte Jr. All Headline News Staff Writer

Popular animated sitcom, The Simpsons, will postpone one of its episodes out of respect to the late Pope John Paul II and the recent crowning of Benedict XVI.

The potentially offensive episode titled, The Father, Son, and Holy Guest, and starring Liam Neeson as a Catholic priest, has been pushed back to a May 15 airdate to allow time to pass between the recent events that have taken place within the church.

In the past, the hit animated series has been known to upset religious organizations. Years ago, The Catholic League reportedly pressured Fox executives and creator, Matt Groening, to alter lines in another episode.

Groening defended his series in a 1999 interview for Mother Jones.

“Not only do The Simpsons go to church every Sunday and pray, they actually speak to God from time to time,” he said.

“We show him, and God has five fingers. Unlike The Simpsons, who only have four.”