On Fox News Fearless HLI Priest Takes on Sean Hannity (may be indebted for saving his soul)

LifeSite ^ | March 13, 2007 | John-Henry Westen

[NYer]

NEW YORK, March 13, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Last Friday, the President of Human Life International, Fr. Tom Euteneuer used his weekly column to point out the hypocrisy of Catholic celebrity Sean Hannity, one of the stars of Fox News' Hannity and Colmes show.

Hannity had, on a show the week before, made a big deal of apologizing for having inadvertently eaten a couple of bites of a meat sandwich on a Friday during Lent.  In his column, Fr. Euteneuer pointed out that the meat incident was not sinful at all, and "If apologies are the order of the day, then the repentance I would like to hear out of Sean Hannity's mouth is for his shameless-even scandalous-promotion of birth control. Yes, I have heard him personally say, 'I have no problem with birth control. It's a good thing.'"

Explaining the gravity of the situation, Fr. Euteneuer noted, "Given the size of his audience and the importance of his status in pop culture, Hannity's anti-witness to a fundamental tenet of Catholic moral doctrine is just devastating for the faith of others who may be weak or vacillating in this area."  In his concluding remarks he stated: "The moral of the story is that Catholic men and women in the media need to be truly Catholic or at least stop being hypocrites." (see the full column here: http://www.hli.org/sl_2007-03-09.html )

Hannity's dissent from Church teaching on contraception is long-standing and very public.  In fact, in 2004, his public stand in favor of contraception made it into a commentary in the oldest Catholic newspaper in the United States, the Wanderer. 

On a show in 2004, Hannity was explaining his opposition to withholding Communion from Catholic politicians who support legal abortion.  At the time he pointed out that should Communion be withheld from liberals it could also be withheld from conservatives such as he since, he said, he had no problem with contraception.

Hannity's press handlers called the HLI leader the day his column was published to have him address Hannity live on the program.  Fr. Euteneuer obliged and began a reasoned, calm presentation of his case. "One is simply obliged not to be a heretic in public. That's the point," said Fr. Euteneuer in response to an initial question from Colmes. "If (Hannity) doesn't agree with his Church on that matter he should not be pronouncing on the matter as if he was the authority on that matter. He's not."

However rather than argue for his case on contraception or even address the points made in Fr. Euteneuer's article Hannity immediately jumped to the offensive.  "Reverend. Let me, let me just say… You call me a hypocrite. You question the depth of my faith. Do you know anything about me and my religious beliefs? And my background religion? do you know anything about me?"

"I only see the evidence Sean. I see the evidence of a superficial presentation of one aspect of the faith. I see the…," replied Fr. Euteneuer just before he was cut off by Hannity's attack on the Catholic Church via the sex abuse scandals.  "Judge not lest you be judged, Reverend", interrupted Hannity.  "Maybe you ought to spend a little more time that our Church covered up one of the worst sex scandals and I wasn't involved in it. And the fact that public people after that are willing to still be Catholic is something you should be applauding. Considering the levels of corruption at the highest levels of the Church was frankly embarrassing to every person."

Many commenting on Hannity, have said that he 'lost it' with the priest.  "Do you know that I went to a seminary? Do you know that I studied Latin? Do you know that I studied theology?," said Hannity at one point just before repeating charges about corruption and sex scandals in the church.

The only time Hannity seemed especially affected by the priest came right at the end of the segment when Hannity demanded, "Wait, would you deny me communion?"  Fr. Euteneuer replied, "I would."  Hannity, visibly moved, replied, "Wow, wow." (See the segment on vido here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f50fD5elrcg )

Despite his courage and fidelity, Fr. Euteneuer has received criticism for his stand even from some Catholics who, despite decades of persistent, public and very damaging scandal to the faith by prominent individuals, still insist that behind-the-scenes, personal dialogue is the only acceptable response.  It has been suggested that the HLI leader should have approached Hannity privately.  However, in 2004, after Hannity 's scandalous remarks about contraception Fr. Euteneuer did attempt to personally contact Hannity with his concerns but to no avail.

The broadcast is being praised for having raised publicly that contraception leads to abortion and is contrary to the Catholic faith.  It has also shown that the Catholic Church is impartial in its estimation of liberals and conservatives, and must correct equally all those who reject the Church's authoritative teachings on faith and morals.

Probably the saddest chapter of the event was Fox News publishing an open letter to Sean Hannity by Father Jonathan Morris, a regular news contributor for the fox News Channel.  Fr. Morris, vice rector for the Legionnaries of Christ seminary in Rome, wrote that when he saw the program, "I hung my head in shame and sadness."   Fr. Morris continued, "My colleague in religion (whom I've never met) used the public airways and Internet to call you a heretic and hypocrite. Because he chose to do this in a public forum, I want you and your viewers to know, publicly, that as an analyst of this television network, I believe this good priest, who does great work, exercised, on this occasion, shockingly poor judgment. I consider his willingness to give his personal opinion about your status within the Church inappropriate and ill-considered, to say the least."

In an open letter responding to Fr. Morris, Fr. Euteneuer wrote: "Your letter to Sean Hannity indicates that you did not know that I asked to speak to him in private about this matter in 2004 otherwise you may have tempered your remarks about my supposed lack of charity in dealing with a high profile Catholic who dissents from clearly-defined and reiterated Church teachings."

"May I also point out," added Fr. Euteneuer, "that you did not employ with me the same standard of "fraternal correction" that you expected me to employ with Mr. Hannity. I at least made the attempt to speak to him about this issue in private without success; you, in contrast, went immediately to the internet to take me to task."  (See both Fr. Morris' letter and Fr. Euteneuer's response: http://www.hli.org/article_open_letter_to_fr_morris.html )

As a man who has defended the Catholic position on the right to life for the unborn, on traditional marriage, and against the euthanasia of Terri Schiavo, Sean Hannity has come to grips with many of the hard teachings of the faith.  Some observers are suggesting that his encounter with the Church's position on contraception, was an eye-opener and may in fact lead Hannity to a fuller adherence to what he professes to believe.  To this priest, who so perturbed him, Hannity may one day find himself grateful, perhaps eternally so.

[FourtySeven]

Hmm, this changes my view of Hannity, at least a bit. How could he be so disrespectful to a priest? And indeed, how could he deny the teaching of the Church on contraception?

[Frank Sheed]

I am deeply distressed that Fr. Morris entered this fray. With the "problems" the Legionaries have had with regard to their founder, this statement defending Hannity without contacting Fr. Euteneuer for "fraternal correction" and then the rebuttal published by Fr. Euteneuer is akin to seeing Fr. Morris "fall on his sword."

What a revealing situation for both Hannity and for Fr. Morris!

[mockingbyrd]

Promoting abortion brings with it an automatic excommunication. Using a condom does not. However, Communion is not a universal right for Catholics. You must be in the state of grace and free from all serious sin. Using contracepives is a serious sin in the church. It is one out of many serious sins.

[Frank Sheed]

http://www.ewtn.com/library/PRIESTS/FR93103.TXT

You might want to have a gander at this rather long article before you judge. It places things in their proper perspective about "harmless contraception."

[Frank Sheed]

Have you ever heard of Onanism? Poor Onan was "smitten dead" by God. Mull that over.

[trisham]

Hmm, this changes my view of Hannity, at least a bit. How could he be so disrespectful to a priest? And indeed, how could he deny the teaching of the Church on contraception?

***********

I've never been a fan of Hannity, but I am shocked at his behaviour. I hope for his sake, his family and those for whom he is an influence that he takes Fr. Euteneuer's statements to heart.

[Eagle of Liberty]

Used correctly, contraception CANNOT lead to abortion. If there's no baby created, there's no baby to abort.

I think the point here is that if an unmarried teen is using contraception, that teen is having premarital sex, which is against Catholic teachings.

It seems to me that Sean has the view that it would be best for teens to abstain, but if they choose not to, it would be better for them to use contraception than to create an unwanted baby.

[paudio]

I'm still not convinced, but thank you anyway. I do have a question, however, how come we don't hear much about priest denying a pro death penalty Republican communion?

[xsmommy]

the Catholic Catechism permits of the death penalty in narrow circumstances. abortion is specifically proscribed.

[ArrogantBustard]

how come we don't hear much about priest denying a pro death penalty Republican communion?

For the same reason that we don't hear much about denying communion to combat soldiers (many of whom are Catholic), or to folks who have used lethal force in individual self-defense.

[Frank Sheed]

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/mar/06032005.html

[Frank Sheed]

Please read the link in #24. Tax-chick was so impressed that she is making copies to give to friends. It is a marvelous essay and really "nails" the conundrum.

[Salvation]

**So, according to this priest, having no problem with contraception is the same as supporting legal abortion? Both are the ground for denying communion?**

Yes>

                From the Catechism of the Catholic Church (click on the book for the link.)    

2399 The regulation of births represents one of the aspects of responsible fatherhood and motherhood. Legitimate intentions on the part of the spouses do not justify recourse to morally unacceptable means (for example, direct sterilization or contraception).

 

2370 Periodic continence, that is, the methods of birth regulation based on self-observation and the use of infertile periods, is in conformity with the objective criteria of morality. These methods respect the bodies of the spouses, encourage tenderness between them, and favor the education of an authentic freedom. In contrast, "every action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible" is intrinsically evil:

Thus the innate language that expresses the total reciprocal self-giving of husband and wife is overlaid, through contraception, by an objectively contradictory language, namely, that of not giving oneself totally to the other. This leads not only to a positive refusal to be open to life but also to a falsification of the inner truth of conjugal love, which is called upon to give itself in personal totality. . . . The difference, both anthropological and moral, between contraception and recourse to the rhythm of the cycle . . . involves in the final analysis two irreconcilable concepts of the human person and of human sexuality.

[Salvation]

**In publicly promoting contraception, Hannity may be leading others astray.**

Catechism of the Catholic Church and what it says about those who support abortion

What does this say about Sean Hannity?

[paudio]

Gotta go. Thank you All!

[Right in Wisconsin]

I believe he would deny communion on the basis of birth control other than condoms..although that is not specifically stated.

[Eagle of Liberty]

2399 The regulation of births represents one of the aspects of responsible fatherhood and motherhood. Legitimate intentions on the part of the spouses do not justify recourse to morally unacceptable means (for example, direct sterilization or contraception).

So, a woman getting her tubes tied or a man having a vasectomy are also prohibitted since they are "unacceptable means"? Periodic continence is the only allowable method for a married couple? What if a woman's doctor has told the woman that having further children will put her life at risk? Is the couple to abstain from sex since there is always a risk of getting pregnant when engaging in unprotected sex? And how will abstaining affect the marriage?

I can agree with abstaining before marriage. I can agree that abortion is wrong, but shouldn't the Church recognize some method by which a couple can decide when they have enough children, especially when having another child will possibly kill the mom, the child or both? Shouldn't the Church recognize a method that will not remove sex totally from marriage?

[trisham]

Wow. Can you believe it was written in 1993? Amazing. It's as relevant today as it was then. Sadly.

[mockingbyrd]

Because the death penalty is considered within the state's right to enforce. The Vatican objects to the way it is applied through out the world not to the concept of the death penalty itself.

Contraception is a perversion of a good. The death penalty is not an evil in and of itself.

Thank you for asking, I appreciate your efforts to better understand what Catholics believe.

[Salvation]

**I can agree with abstaining before marriage. I can agree that abortion is wrong, but shouldn't the Church recognize some method by which a couple can decide when they have enough children, especially when having another child will possibly kill the mom, the child or both? Shouldn't the Church recognize a method that will not remove sex totally from marriage?**

You are getting into an area called "INFORMED CONSCIENCE". I can't go there because I don't have to answer for YOUR actions. Only you and your spouse must answer.

(But I don't think Hannity has 8-12 children, do you? So, then this would not apply to him and his wife.