Hannity Find His 'Inner Liberal' Amid Exorcist Priest Scandal (Hannity is a Jerk) (Ecumenical)

MyFrontRoyal.com ^ | 02/03/2011 | Dan McDermott

[Pyro7480]

Fox News host Sean Hannity addressed the controversy surrounding a top Virginia exorcist Catholic priest at the end of his Hannity cable news show Wednesday night and made note of the unusually favorable treatment he has been getting from Huffington Post commenters.

After playing portions of a now-infamous 2007 exchange in which then-Human Life International Father Thomas Euteneuer called Hannity a "heretic" and "cultural Catholic," Hannity read part of Fr. Euteneuer's recent confession to transgressions which caused him to be removed as head of Human Life International.

"I take full responsibility for my own poor judgment, my weakness and my sinful conduct that resulted from it," Hannity read.

The host then noted the priest's admission of violating his vow of chastity due to human weakness, which Fr. Euteneuer said "did not involve the sexual act."

"Bill Clinton would be proud of that," Hannity joked.

"Look, I don't want to make a situation worse. Apparently something happened -- pretty severe -- and he's been taken away from his position," Hannity said.

But Hannity still seemed upset at at having his faith questioned and the priest's conduct after the appearance on Hannity & Colmes.

"He's so self righteous. He spent years raising money off this exchange with me and building his name recognition," Hannity said....

One of the panelists joked that the video clip of his face-off with Rev. Euteneuer had "brought out the inner liberal" in Hannity.

Hannity responded, "That's like the Huffington Post defending me [today]."

[allmendream]

I am not bearing false witness by pointing out that he is equivocating when he says “the” sexual act. It is an equivocation.

[Religion Moderator]

Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.

[A.A. Cunningham]

You apparently don't realize that some forms of birth control are abortifacient.

[Campion]

It’s as if Hannity is saying that because the priest who questioned his faithfulness to the Church has had his own failinjgs, Hannity’s failings are now OK.

It's the standard liberal, not conservative, approach to morality, rooted in the belief that objective moral standards don't exist, so that the validity of any criticism of my moral failings rests, not on the strength of your argument or on moral principles with which we both agree, but on your own moral rectitude. Since everyone is a sinner sooner or later and to some degree or another, any moral criticism can be deflected that way.

Hannity seems to define "conservatism" as "what Sean likes or does".

[A.A. Cunningham]

That obviously is a policy of yours that doesn’t apply to everyone on this thread.

[Campion]

I am not bearing false witness by pointing out that he is equivocating when he says “the” sexual act. It is an equivocation.

Unless you were there or have information not available to the public at large, you don't know whether it's an equivocation or not.

As has already been patiently explained to you, there are numerous acts and thoughts which would qualify as sins against chastity, none of which would be a "sexual act" in the ordinary meaning of the term. Anything a married man couldn't morally do with a woman not his wife would be off-limits to a priest, and then some.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Hannity is childish. It’s like Hannity is gloating that the priest committed a sin.

Hannity should have remained silent.

A mature human would have noted that the priest was removed from his position and had shown contrition, nothing need be said publicly about it. Hannity could have discussed it over coffee with his wife, but there is no need to drag out any sordid details this way.

I have no respect for Hannity.

I do have respect for the priest for being honest.

[Religion Moderator]

This Religion Forum thread is labeled “ecumenical” meaning antagonism is not allowed on this thread.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I don’t think he’s equivocating. Using the term, “the sexual act” is gramatically correct and it does not hold any other hidden meaning. He meant “I did not have sex with anyone”.

Do you think that would be equivocating, too? He isn’t going to list all of the acts that could have lead to his breaking the vow of chastity from a to z, just for you.

This was not written for your eyes, but someone else’s. You are reading too much into it.

[Coleus]

which caused him to be removed as head of Human Life International. >>>

i didn’t know about this.. sorry to hear it...

[Antoninus]

"He's so self righteous. He spent years raising money off this exchange with me and building his name recognition," Hannity said.

Exactly the wrong reaction, Sean. You don't gloat over someone's fall from grace.

Priests like Fr. Euteneuer who are charged with preaching the word of God in the public eye are under extraordinary attacks from the Prince of this World. Many, sadly, will succumb. You will notice that unlike Fr. Cutie, Fr. Euteneuer has repented, publicly humbled himself, and appears serious in his contrition.

We need to pray for him and all priests.

[Antoninus]

I have a hard time believing he was relieved of his position at Human Life International merely for lusting after someone in his heart.

It is possible that he removed himself because being in the spotlight subjected him to temptations he was having trouble dealing with.

He wouldn't be the first one. Celebrity priests fall with shocking regularity (see Fr. Cutie). Worldly fame and the priesthood are not a good combination.

[Flying Circus]

For any persons who are not married to each other, any intimate touching, passionate kissing or any other behavior that would tend to lead toward sex is a violation of chastity. It is a sign of our hyper-sexualization and basic lacking of the concept of chastity in our society that your question even gets asked.

[murron]

I know I’m sick of hearing how pro-life he is when he continues to drool over Giuliani for President.