D'oh! Church recruits Homer Simpson to help fill the pews
24th June 2007

As the beer-swilling head of a dysfunctional family, Homer Simpson seems an unlikely role model for the Church of England.

Yet the Archbishop of Canterbury thinks the slobbish cartoon character is just the man to attract youngsters to services.

Homer and his rebellious son Bart are to feature in a book - Mixing It Up With The Simpsons - being sent to church youth workers. It will urge clergy to show their congregations episodes of the TV show that deal with key Christian themes such as punishment, love and the Second Coming.

Owen Smith, the youth worker who wrote the book, said the cartoon was full of Biblical allusions and messages. the rest image