[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.

[Running On Empty]

Thanks, Campion and Jeff, for saying it for me and saying it so well. I couldn't improve on it.

Glad you guys are there.

[redgolum]

This whole episode is odd for me. Sean has made a "big deal" about being Christian in general and Catholic in particular, yet he stakes out positions that are 180 degrees out of phase from the Catholic Church.

Now the priest probably shouldn't of done things the way he did (causing scandal etc), but I do like a man who has the courage of his convictions. Sean, rather than defend himself, did the personal attacks and immediately try to change the subject to discredit the priest. The same stuff he lam blasts liberals for.

The whole thing is a mess.