‘Lacks moral clarity’: Sean Hannity quit the Catholic Church 7 years ago, but now wants to tell the Pope how to be Catholic
Today's lesson in Catechism by Sean Hannity.
Sean Hannity just accused Pope Leo XIV of being a “run-of-the-mill Trump-hating Democrat that lacks moral clarity” during his Fox News show. The conservative host also tried to school the Pope on the “actual teachings of Jesus Christ,” arguing that the Bible contains hundreds of references to war, including instances where God supposedly “authorized” conflict.
Hannity’s decision to wade into theological debates while simultaneously claiming the Pope is more interested in “left-wing politics” than faith is a bold move, even for him. According to Inquisitr, his rant centered on Leo’s recent comments about war, particularly his statement that “God does not bless any conflict and certainly doesn’t side with those who drop bombs.”
“Well, first, that is simply not biblically accurate,” Hannity shot back, pointing to over 400 references to war in the Bible. He even name-dropped the battle between David and Goliath as an example of God supposedly endorsing violence. It’s a familiar tactic – using selective scripture to justify a political stance.
Hannity took it further by questioning the Pope’s motives outright
“Why is the Pope twisting religion to only attack Trump?” he asked, before pivoting to the pontiff’s meetings with former Obama advisor David Axelrod and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. “Is it because he’s a run-of-the-mill Trump-hating Democrat that lacks moral clarity?”
This whole spat kicked off when Leo criticized the U.S. and Israel’s military actions in Iran, prompting an angry response from the president, who told reporters earlier this week that the Pope should “get his act together.” The White House has since tried to downplay the feud, but Hannity’s segment suggests the MAGA base isn’t ready to let it go.
Hannity’s argument hinges on the idea that the Pope is somehow betraying the faith by opposing war. This is a pretty convenient narrative if you’re trying to rally support for a president who’s facing criticism over his foreign policy.
The backlash to Hannity’s comments was swift. One X user said, “The ‘actual teachings of Jesus Christ,’ which Hannity thinks he knows better than… the Pope?” Another quipped, “Right, focus on all the schools Jesus blew up, or the mass deportations Jesus orchestrated. Or all the times Jesus was in the Epstein Files.”
It’s the kind of snark you’d expect from social media, but it underscores a bigger issue: Hannity’s attempt to position himself as a biblical authority while attacking the Pope’s credibility is a tough sell, even for his audience. The Catholic Church has spent centuries interpreting scripture, and while there’s plenty of room for debate, Hannity’s approach — dismissing the Pope as a partisan hack — is more a political hit than a genuine theological discussion.
Hannity’s own history with the Catholic Church is interesting
He revealed on his show that he left the faith seven years ago, “in large part because of institutionalized corruption.” This raises questions about why he’s suddenly so invested in telling the Pope how to do his job. If you’re someone who walked away from the Church over corruption, lecturing the pontiff on morality might come across as a little hypocritical.
Hannity tried to preempt that criticism by leaning into his credentials. He mentioned studying Latin and theology in Catholic school and even offered to interview the Pope himself, per Daily Beast. “I think I’m uniquely qualified,” he said. “I’d love to interview the Pope.” It’s a classic Hannity move: frame yourself as the reasonable one, even as you’re lobbing grenades at one of the most powerful religious figures in the world.
The Pope, for his part, isn’t backing down. During a visit to Cameroon, he doubled down on his anti-war stance, calling out leaders who spend billions on conflicts while the world is “being ravaged by a handful of tyrants.” “Peace is not something we must invent,” he said. “It is something we must embrace by accepting our neighbor as a brother and as our sister.”
Leo’s message resonates with a lot of people
Polls show that Leo’s popularity is surging, particularly among Millennials and Gen Z, who are joining the Church in record numbers. This past Easter, some archdioceses reported their highest number of new Catholics in two decades. That’s a stark contrast to the president’s declining support among Catholic voters, which has dipped below 50% amid the war on Iran.
Hannity, of course, sided with the president. “The President is correct. The Pope is wrong on so many levels,” he declared. It’s a line that plays well with the MAGA base, but it also highlights how deeply politicized this feud has become. When a Fox News host is arguing with the Pope over biblical interpretation, you know things have gone off the rails.
What’s really at stake here is power. The Catholic Church has always been a global institution, but under Pope Leo, it’s taken a more vocal stance on social and political issues, from climate change to war. That’s put him at odds with conservative leaders, who see his messaging as a threat to their agenda. Hannity’s attack is just the latest example of how the right is trying to frame the Pope as out of touch or even hostile to their values.
But here’s the thing: the Pope’s job isn’t to align with any political party. His role is to guide the Church, and if his message resonates with younger generations, that’s a problem for the MAGA movement, which has relied on older, more conservative Catholics for support.
(Featured image: Gage Skidmore)
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