WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new interim staff report released by the House Judiciary Committee and its Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government has shed light on the FBI's alleged targeting of traditional Catholics as potential domestic terrorists. Titled "The FBI's Breach of Religious Freedom: The Weaponization of Law Enforcement Against Catholic Americans," the report reveals the extent of the FBI's categorization of certain Catholic Americans as threats and its proposed measures to infiltrate Catholic churches for "threat mitigation."
The report highlights an FBI-wide memorandum that originated from the FBI's Richmond Field Office. This memorandum labeled certain "radical-traditionalist Catholics" (RTCs) as violent extremists and suggested opportunities for the FBI to infiltrate Catholic churches. The FBI's Richmond memorandum raised concerns about the violation of civil liberties and core Constitutional rights.
The investigation into the FBI's actions began in February 2023 when whistleblower Kyle Seraphin revealed the existence of the Richmond memorandum. However, the FBI's lack of cooperation prompted the House Judiciary Committee to issue a subpoena requesting documents related to the memorandum. The oversight conducted by the Committee and Select Subcommittee uncovered the FBI's abuse of counterterrorism tools in targeting Catholic Americans.
The report reveals that the FBI relied on at least one undercover agent and proposed developing sources among the Catholic clergy and church leadership. The FBI even interviewed a priest and choir director affiliated with a Catholic church in Richmond, Virginia, to gather information for the memorandum. It became evident that errors occurred during the drafting, review, approval, and removal process of the memorandum.
The basis for the memorandum was a single investigation in the Richmond Field Office's area of responsibility, where the subject identified as an RTC. However, FBI employees were unable to define what an RTC meant, yet this investigation served as the foundation for an FBI-wide memorandum warning about the dangers of "radical" Catholics.
The report further reveals that the FBI used sources with political biases, including the Southern Poverty Law Center, Salon, and The Atlantic, to support its assessment. The FBI's targeting of Catholic Americans extended to those who were pro-life, pro-family, and supported the biological basis for sex and gender distinction.
Despite the criticism received after the memorandum's disclosure, there were discussions within the FBI about turning it into an external document to highlight the threats posed by "radical" Catholics. FBI Richmond's senior leadership saw this as an opportunity to insert federal law enforcement into places of worship and establish outreach efforts with the Catholic community.
In response to public criticism, FBI Richmond's Special Agent in Charge Stanley Meador met with members of the clergy, including the Most Reverend Barry Knestout, Bishop of the Diocese of Richmond, to address the FBI's strained relationship with the Catholic community.
The report raises concerns about the memorandum's accessibility to other field offices across the country. The FBI is unable to determine how many employees accessed the memorandum before its removal and whether any outreach occurred to Catholic parishes as a result.
The House Judiciary Committee and the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government are responsible for investigating violations of the civil liberties of citizens. This interim staff report fulfills their obligation to identify and report instances of government overreach. The report aims to inform legislative reforms and protect American civil liberties.
As the investigation continues, the Committee and Select Subcommittee will pursue further facts to address these concerns and prevent future instances of government overreach. The full interim staff report can be accessed for more information.
Click this link to access more information: https://judiciary.house.gov/media/press-releases/new-report-details-extent-fbis-weaponization-law-enforcement-against
