If his show were purely current events/politics, then it's unlikely he'd be taken to task in the way he has been. Certainly, nobody is asking him to use his microphone to champion religious/moral issues. However, on one particular day, Hannity himself made it about religion and he attacked the Church's teaching on one particular topic.
Several people, including a Catholic priest, responded.
What a surprise! Somebody actually had the nerve to defend the Catholic Church's teaching. Sheesh! What's wrong with them? Can't they just leave Hannity alone to spout his ideas unchallenged?
I didn't listen to Sean's show today, so I'll rely on your description of the conversation.
You said....
"Since his radio/TV talk shows are essentially political/current events oriented in nature, and not religiously themed, I don't understand why any Catholic, priest or laymen, feels free to personally and publically attack him, as a public figure, for the "sin" of not using his microphone to advance a decidedly Catholic sect specific agenda."
First of all...while it is true that Hannity's show USUALLY is purely political/current event, it is not true that has always been the case.
Hannity himself has made his catholicism an issue - he quite frequently has declared it.
He then has gone on to proclaim beliefs that directly contradict Church teaching.
This would be like a mormon who conducts a similar show but mentions off-hand one day that he didn't believe Joseph Smith really saw any golden tablets.
The mormons would question how "mormon" he really is.
So...Hannity, a self-proclaimed "devout catholic" regularly proclaims opinions that directly contradict catholic teaching.
This is when he opens himself up to what is considered "scandal" - where a popular public figure defies his church in public. This is when fellow catholics and priests feel they have the right to take him on.
I'm not really sure why you have a problem with it. Hannity isn't above reproach. If people have a beef with him they have every right to express it.
A most amazing declaration not least of all for the continuing use of the word "sect" and the energy previously spent excoriating Catholics for taking issue with Sean Hannity who claims to be a fellow Catholic.