Fox News host Sean Hannity said last week that he left the Catholic Church years ago, citing concerns about corruption within the institution. His comments came during a recent episode of his primetime show, where he reflected on his religious upbringing and explained why he now identifies simply as a Christian.
“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 point to any single incident but referenced what he described as longstanding scandals and misconduct within the church. He said the issues were not adequately addressed and criticized what he called a failure to correct serious problems over time.
“Frankly not only unchecked, they never fully corrected it or dealt with it,” Hannity said, referring to the controversies. “Others at the Vatican have totally lost the true meaning of the Bible and its teachings.”
His remarks came as tensions escalated between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV following the pope’s comments on the ongoing conflict involving Iran. The exchange drew attention across political and religious circles.
Trump criticized the pope in a post on Truth Social, writing, “Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.” He also accused the Catholic Church and other Christian organizations of failing to speak out during COVID-era restrictions.
“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,” Trump wrote. “They were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services,” he added.
Pope Leo responded the following day, pushing back on the criticism and 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.
During his broadcast, Hannity also reflected on his personal history with the Catholic Church, describing a deeply rooted upbringing. He said he spent years immersed in religious education and practice during his youth.
“Like millions of Americans, I was raised Catholic. I went to Catholic school for 12 years,” Hannity said. “I even attended a seminary in high school, studied theology, Latin, went to Mass daily. I got a lot out of it,” he added.
Despite his criticism of the institution, Hannity acknowledged that his early experiences had a lasting positive impact. He credited his upbringing with shaping his values, even as he distanced himself from the church’s leadership and direction.
“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,” he added.
Hannity also suggested that the current leadership of the church has strayed from its core teachings, though he did not elaborate in detail. He described Pope Leo as “seemingly enjoying a public fight” with Trump, adding another layer to the ongoing political and religious tensions.
His comments highlight a broader conversation about faith, institutional trust, and personal belief. While Hannity has moved away from Catholicism, he made clear that religion continues to play a central role in his life and worldview.