Simpsons ep where Father Lovejoy goes to the Vatican? (WARN: dark topic)
May 2, 2023 2:08 AM Subscribe
WARNING: dark topic / childhood abuse /
I'm trying to recall a Simpsons episode. At least I remember it as the Simpsons. It could have been another show. I saw it years ago.
Here's how I remember it:
Father Lovejoy discovers that child abuse is occurring in the church. Or perhaps just that abuse is a problem generally. Wanting to stop it, he goes up the hierarchy saying "we need to stop this," getting rebuffed at each step. Finally he reaches the Vatican. (Ok that's can't be right. Lovejoy isn't a depicted as Catholic. Maybe it was just his church's Highest Office.)
The recurring irony is that Lovejoy keeps saying the problem is the abuse, while the church authorities keep seeing the problem as the reporting of the abuse. There are lines like, "My God, you're right: we need to do something about these kids reporting these things."
I don't remember how it ends.
Now that I've written it down, it doesn't sound like the Simpsons. Could it have been South Park? Clearly, my memory on this one is hazy.
If anyone can help I'd be grateful.
Here's how I remember it:
Father Lovejoy discovers that child abuse is occurring in the church. Or perhaps just that abuse is a problem generally. Wanting to stop it, he goes up the hierarchy saying "we need to stop this," getting rebuffed at each step. Finally he reaches the Vatican. (Ok that's can't be right. Lovejoy isn't a depicted as Catholic. Maybe it was just his church's Highest Office.)
The recurring irony is that Lovejoy keeps saying the problem is the abuse, while the church authorities keep seeing the problem as the reporting of the abuse. There are lines like, "My God, you're right: we need to do something about these kids reporting these things."
I don't remember how it ends.
Now that I've written it down, it doesn't sound like the Simpsons. Could it have been South Park? Clearly, my memory on this one is hazy.
If anyone can help I'd be grateful.
Best answer: (it's Reverend Lovejoy, by the way...they're low church of some kind or another!)
posted by praemunire at 6:28 AM on May 2, 2023
posted by praemunire at 6:28 AM on May 2, 2023
Reverend Lovejoy is not a priest, by the way, and he is married to Helen and they have a daughter Jessica. The First Church of Springfield is a Protestant church, not Catholic.
posted by soelo at 6:30 AM on May 2, 2023
posted by soelo at 6:30 AM on May 2, 2023
Best answer: In case this helps reconcile your memory, there is a 2020 two-parter Simpsons episode “Warrin’ Priests,” in which Rev. Lovejoy is replaced by a younger charismatic pastor, and he goes to Michigan to uncover the new pastor’s checkered past (which is not related to abuse).
posted by General Malaise at 7:04 AM on May 2, 2023
posted by General Malaise at 7:04 AM on May 2, 2023
Some Protestants have priests, but yes, thanks to the above (soelo) I learned that it’s not as such the norm.
posted by lokta at 12:10 PM on May 2, 2023
posted by lokta at 12:10 PM on May 2, 2023
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posted by cozenedindigo at 2:24 AM on May 2, 2023 [3 favorites]