The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has raised concerns after it was revealed that Catholic groups were being targeted as potential domestic terrorists. The disclosure has prompted Bill Donahue, the president of the Catholic League, to question why mainstream Catholics were under investigation. In a public letter to House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan, Donahue expressed his worry about the FBI’s actions, which contradict FBI Director Christopher Wray‘s previous testimony claiming that the investigations were limited to a single field office.
According to the House Judiciary Committee, a recently released memo from the FBI’s Richmond Field Office reveals that multiple FBI field offices collaborated to identify radical-traditionalist Catholic ideology as a security threat. The memo suggests that both the FBI’s Portland and Los Angeles field offices contributed to the assessment of traditional Catholics as potential domestic terrorists. This revelation has prompted the committee to request all documents and communications between the Richmond and Portland field offices regarding the information cited in the January 23 memo.
The memo, which has been labeled an anti-Catholic memo by the committee, contains details of a report from the FBI Portland on a deceased individual with ties to a mainline Roman Catholic community who later became involved with the Society of Saint Pius X. This information has raised concerns about the FBI’s assessment of traditional Catholics and the extent of their investigations.
In response to the committee’s findings, Donahue expressed his disappointment and questioned the transparency of the FBI. He called for FBI Director Wray to explain the situation, given the evidence that contradicts Wray’s previous statements. The Catholic League president also raised concerns about what else the FBI may know about the matter.
The memo, dated January 23, referred to a list of Catholic organizations produced by the Southern Poverty Law Center. These organizations, including Catholic Family News/Catholic Family Ministries, Inc., the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the International Fatima Rosary Crusade, were labeled as RTC (Radical-traditionalist Catholic) Hate Groups. The memo described a small minority of Roman Catholic adherents who hold disdain for certain popes elected since Vatican II and espouse anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, anti-LGBT, and white supremacist ideologies.
In February, the FBI acknowledged that the memo from the Richmond office did not meet the bureau’s standards and was subsequently removed for review. The FBI emphasized its commitment to sound analytical tradecraft and stated that it would never initiate investigations solely based on First Amendment-protected activity. The investigation stated that it aimed to prevent acts of violence or other crimes while protecting the constitutional rights of all Americans.
As this case unfolds, it is important to present a balanced view, considering different perspectives and opinions. The concerns raised by the Catholic community, particularly the Catholic League, highlight the need for transparency and the preservation of religious freedom. The role of the FBI in identifying potential domestic terrorists should be scrutinized to ensure the protection of civil liberties. The House Judiciary Committee’s request for additional information will shed further light on this controversial matter.
