The Senate Judiciary Committee has uncovered anti-Catholic language in 13 more FBI documents from the Biden administration. These documents are connected to investigations and have raised concerns about potential bias within the FBI. The original memo, which targeted 'radical traditionalist' Catholics, was retracted after public criticism. The memo was distributed to over 1,000 FBI employees nationwide, with multiple field offices involved in its creation and dissemination. Senator Chuck Grassley is investigating the memo and the FBI's handling of it.
10 days ago
In February 2023, an FBI memo from the Richmond field office sparked controversy for targeting "radical traditionalist" Catholics 1 2. The memo, which was later retracted, outlined an investigation into potential links between these Catholics and racially motivated violent extremism 1 2. The memo focused on those who reject the Second Vatican Council and adhere to anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ, and white supremacist ideologies 4.
A report by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee revealed the 2023 Richmond FBI memo involved coordination with field offices around the country 1 2. The report indicated similar disparaging language about certain Catholics was found in at least 13 separate documents 1 2. Analysts at the Richmond field office consulted with offices in Louisville, Portland, and Milwaukee 1. Conversations with the Louisville office led Richmond analysts to believe that the beliefs of "radical-traditional Catholicism" are "comparable to Islamist theology" 1.
The retracted memo was distributed to over 1,000 FBI employees across the country 1 4. Some FBI officials in Milwaukee and Phoenix expressed concerns about the memo 1 2. One official questioned the need for such a product, while another criticized the overreliance on SPLC hate designations 1 2. A second draft memo was planned but shelved after the initial backlash 1 2.
The original memo relied heavily on designations from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) 1 2. The SPLC is an organization that monitors "hate groups," but has faced criticism for broadly applying that label 4. One FBI official complained that "apparently we are at the behest of the SPLC" 1 2. The second draft of the memo notably omitted references to the SPLC 1 2.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley has requested that the new FBI director, Kash Patel, provide the committee with all relevant documents 1 2. Grassley accused former FBI Director Christopher Wray of misleading testimony regarding the memo's scope 1 2. He stated his determination to investigate the matter thoroughly and restore the FBI's integrity 1 2.
How does the Church define religious freedom and persecution?
The Catholic Church defines religious freedom as an essential human right rooted in the dignity of the human person, while persecution is understood as unjust coercion or punishment inflicted because of one's religion .
Here's a breakdown:
In summary, the Church views religious freedom as a fundamental right grounded in human dignity, essential for individuals and communities to seek and live according to their faith without coercion. Persecution, on the other hand, is the unjust infringement upon this right, encompassing a range of actions from subtle discrimination to violent oppression .