[sarasmom]

It seems to me it was the priest who decided to inject himself into a patently secular realm, and rightly got smacked down by Sean Hannity for abusing his (the priests) religious position.

I have listened to Sean for years, and while I was generally aware he was a Christian, I don't think I ever knew, nor cared, what "denomination" he followed.

But if Sean Hannity's patriotism and conservatism are under question by the Catholic Church, then perhaps I should reevaluate my thoughts on the position of Catholicism in our society. If religious denominational litmus tests are to be required of one to be considered both patriotic and conservative in the USA, or the Republican party, then we have no freedom of and for religion in this nation.

[Campion]

But if Sean Hannity's patriotism and conservatism are under question by the Catholic Church

What a bizarre comment.

The Catholic Church doesn't really care about his "patriotism" or his "conservatism", but about his Catholicism. I believe that's what's at issue here.

If religious denominational litmus tests are to be required of one to be considered both patriotic and conservative in the USA, or the Republican party, then we have no freedom of and for religion in this nation.

A further bizarre comment.

Last time I checked, "freedom of religion" was intended to protect religious belief and expression from the government. It wasn't intended to censor the public rebuke, by a clergyman, of a member of his own denomination. In fact, it wasn't intended to censor a public rebuke by a clergyman, period.

then perhaps I should reevaluate my thoughts on the position of Catholicism in our society.

Now this isn't bizarre. It's chilling.

[narses]

sarasmom says:

But if Sean Hannity's patriotism and conservatism are under question by the Catholic Church, then perhaps I should reevaluate my thoughts on the position of Catholicism in our society.

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[marshmallow]

The question becomes, can you peacefully co-exist in a free nation, with people who are not required by society to hold the same religious beliefs as yourself.

"Peacefully"???

The Catholic Church is guilty of breaching the peace? Wow!!! Tell us more. What happened? Have them damn Catholics been rioting again?

Surely you mean Islam, yes??

[Antoninus]

But if Sean Hannity's patriotism and conservatism are under question by the Catholic Church, then perhaps I should reevaluate my thoughts on the position of Catholicism in our society.

Huh? Where did you get this from? This priest is only concerned with the fact that Hannity is claiming to be a 'devout' Catholic, while dissenting from some pretty basic Catholic teachings. I assume you are a Protestant Christian of some sort? How would you like it if Sean got on the air and claimed, "I'm a member of sarasmom's denomination, but I just don't buy all that Bible stuff. Some of it, sure. But not all of it. I pick and chose what I want to believe."

[sageb1]

To be fair, I thought the priest was very high-handed in his approach. My first thought was that he should have discussed it with Sean off the record. According to the article, he says he tried to. Sean does not reply to his email, which is unfortunate. Birth control is not a "patently secular realm." The Church has a very definite position. The priest said he believes in self-control, rather than birth control. What's wrong with that?

[Scotswife]

"But if Sean Hannity's patriotism and conservatism are under question by the Catholic Church"

The Church could care less about Hannity's patriotism.
Let's say that after all these years of Hannity proclaiming his conservatism...we find out he really is pro tax increases, pro socialized medicine, pro gun control, pro-choice (oh yeah, he IS pro-choice!) ....well, conservative leaders may question his conservatism and rightly so.

And so it is with the Church.
Catholics who support abortion and artificial birth control are not catholic no matter what they call themselves.

It's like calling yourself a Buddhist but you don't believe in meditation.
It's like calling yourself a scientologist but you think L. Ron Hubbard was whacked.

This priest is only pointing out Sean's cognitive dissonance.