Fox News host Sean Hannity announced he no longer considers himself Catholic, citing what he described as institutionalized corruption within the church spanning from parish to Vatican levels.
Hannity made the declaration during his broadcast, stating that he had left the Catholic Church due to longstanding scandals and misconduct he said were never adequately addressed. “I left the Catholic church in large part due to the institutionalized corruption, and it was at the parish level, to the bishop level, cardinals, all the way to Rome,” Hannity said.
He did not point to specific incidents but referenced what he characterized as systemic failures to correct serious problems over time. “Frankly not only unchecked, they never fully corrected it or dealt with it,” he said, adding that Vatican officials had “totally lost the true meaning of the Bible and its teachings.”
The Broader Conflict
Hannity’s remarks came as tensions escalated between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV following the pontiff’s comments on a conflict involving Iran. Trump criticized the pope on Truth Social, writing, “Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.”
Trump also accused the Catholic Church and other Christian organizations of failing to speak out during COVID-era restrictions. “They were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services,” Trump wrote on the platform.
Pope Leo responded the following day, defending his position and his right to speak freely. “I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do,” the pope told reporters.
A Lifelong Catholic Background
Despite his departure, Hannity reflected on his deep roots in the Catholic faith, describing an immersive religious upbringing. “Like millions of Americans, I was raised Catholic. I went to Catholic school for 12 years,” he said.
He noted that he attended seminary in high school and studied theology and Latin while attending Mass daily. “I got a lot out of it,” Hannity added, acknowledging the positive impact of his early experiences.
Hannity credited his parents’ devout faith with shaping his values, even as he distanced himself from current church leadership. “[It] made me a better person and has been a positive force in my life in so many ways,” he said.
Moving Forward
Hannity made clear that religion continues to play a central role in his worldview, though he now identifies as a Christian rather than specifically Catholic. He described Pope Leo as “seemingly enjoying a public fight” with Trump, characterizing the dispute as part of broader tensions between religious institutions and political leadership.
His departure highlights ongoing conversations about institutional trust, faith, and personal belief in American religious life.