Fox News host Sean Hannity announced he departed the Catholic Church years ago, citing concerns about institutional corruption spanning from parish to Vatican levels.
Hannity made the comments during his primetime show, discussing his religious upbringing and current faith identity. He said he now identifies as a Christian rather than a Catholic.
What Hannity Said
“As of today, I no longer consider myself a Catholic. I am a Christian,” Hannity said. “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 did not reference a specific incident but pointed to longstanding scandals within the church. He said these issues were never fully corrected or adequately addressed over time.
“Frankly not only unchecked, they never fully corrected it or dealt with it,” Hannity said. He also criticized what he described as Vatican leaders who have “totally lost the true meaning of the Bible and its teachings.”
Political Context
Hannity’s remarks surfaced as tensions escalated between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV following papal comments on a regional conflict. The exchange drew attention across political and religious circles.
Trump responded to the pope on social media, writing: “He talks about ‘fear’ of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID. They were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services.”
Pope Leo responded the following day, defending his position. “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.
Hannity’s Religious Background
Hannity described his extensive Catholic education and early immersion in faith. “Like millions of Americans, I was raised Catholic. I went to Catholic school for 12 years,” he said.
“I even attended a seminary in high school, studied theology, Latin, went to Mass daily. I got a lot out of it,” Hannity added. Despite his current departure from the church, he said his upbringing shaped his values positively.
“My parents were devout Catholics, and while I wasn’t particularly engaged at the time in the teachings of the Catholic church, as a young person, it certainly entered my consciousness,” he said. “[It] made me a better person and has been a positive force in my life in so many ways.”
Hannity suggested current church leadership has strayed from core teachings, describing Pope Leo as “seemingly enjoying a public fight” with Trump. Religion continues to play a central role in his life and worldview, he indicated.