Fox News host Sean Hannity recently announced that he no longer considers himself Catholic, saying he now identifies simply as a Christian.
Speaking on his television program, Hannity explained that he left the Catholic Church years ago because of what he described as widespread institutional corruption within the church. He said the problems extended from local parishes to bishops, cardinals, and even the Vatican, adding that many of the controversies were never fully addressed or corrected.
Hannity stated that longstanding scandals and misconduct within the church led to his decision, although he did not identify a specific event that caused his departure. He argued that some church leaders had moved away from biblical teachings and criticized what he viewed as failures in church leadership. Despite these criticisms, he emphasized that his faith remains an important part of his life.
His comments came during a period of public disagreement between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV regarding foreign policy and the conflict involving Iran.
Trump criticized the pope on social media, accusing him of being weak on crime and foreign policy. He also argued that religious organizations faced restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic and claimed that churches did not receive sufficient support during that period.
Pope Leo responded by saying that he was not afraid to speak out and that his role was to proclaim the message of the Gospel. The exchange attracted significant attention from both political and religious observers.
During his remarks, Hannity reflected on his Catholic upbringing.
He explained that he attended Catholic schools for twelve years, studied theology and Latin, attended Mass regularly, and even spent time in a seminary during high school. He credited his parents’ strong faith and his religious education with helping shape his character and values.
Although Hannity criticized the Catholic Church’s leadership, he said his early experiences within the faith had a positive impact on his life.
He argued that current church leadership has drifted from traditional teachings and suggested that Pope Leo had become involved in political disputes. His comments have contributed to broader discussions about faith, institutional trust, religious identity, and the relationship between religion and politics in modern America.
