Hannity Says He Left Catholic Church Over Corruption Concerns
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.
Advertisement
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.
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.
“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
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.
HANNITY: “Where are the pointed words from the Pope against Iran? Trump is correct and the Pope is wrong…on so many levels. As of today, I no longer consider myself a Catholic.”
— Stew Peters (@realstewpeters) April 18, 2026
Hannity leaves the Catholic Church to worship Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/b1glO5t6EE
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.
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.
“Like millions of Americans, I was raised Catholic
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.
