Americans have been shocked by reports that the FBI has targeted traditional Catholic churches, labeling them as potential hotbeds of extremism. This news has caused civil rights attorney Leo Terrell to go off on the FBI, calling the agency’s actions a “war by the extreme left against religion.”
The Jan. 2, 2023, memo from the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, suggested that traditional Catholics are prone to “anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ and white supremacist” ideologies. The FBI later withdrew the memo and promised to investigate its origin, but that hasn’t stopped the outrage from continuing.
Republican Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, the chairman of the Weaponization Committee, subpoenaed the FBI to provide documents related to the memo. The committee learned that the FBI relied on at least “one undercover employee to produce its analysis” and that the agency directed its agents reach out to Catholic parishes “to develop sources” among church leadership and clergy.
The FBI’s outreach plan also included contacting “mainline Catholic parishes” and local “diocesan leadership” to serve as “suspicious activity tripwires” by familiarizing them with alleged signs of “radicalization” and “report on suspicious activity” from the targeted churches. Attorney General Merrick Garland disavowed the memo at a March 1 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing when Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley pressed him on it.
This latest incident serves as another example of political corruption within the FBI. The agency used its power to target traditional Catholic churches with no evidence of criminal activity. This is one of many instances where the FBI has abused its power to target political opponents and religious groups.
Americans must remain vigilant in holding the FBI accountable for its actions. The agency is meant to protect the public, not weaponize its power against certain groups. It is our duty to speak out against this oppressive behavior and make sure the FBI is not used as a tool of political oppression.
We also have to face and address the glaring issue of outrage without action. Americans are responsible for voting for politicians who support a healthy and fair justice system. This means it’s the duty of every American to vote out corrupt officials whenever possible.
