Need help with fuel filter

I have a 1996 ford mustang 3.8 V6 that I am currently in the process of replacing the fuel filter. I disconnected the clips and the lines with no problem and this may seem like a stupid question but how do you get the filter itself out? The filter is inside a metal housing and on one side the housing has brackets to keep the filter in so it obviousley is supposed to slide out the other side. But the problem is on the other side are all the fuel lines and there is no way to bend them to free up enough space to slide the filter out, it almost seems like the housing was welded on backwards. On the side with the brackets to keep the filter in there is only one rubber line that is easy to move out of the way so I am thinking about just cutting the brackets and pulling it out the opposite end. Does anyone know of the proper way to get it out?