FBI Disavows Memo Targeting Catholics for Surveillance

Friday, February 10, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: C. J. Doyle

[email protected]

 

One day after it was leaked to the public, the Federal Bureau of Investigation retracted a memo by its Richmond, Virginia field office, which called for the surveillance of traditional Catholics as prospective allies of "white nationalists," and "violent extremists."

 

The memo, citing the discredited Southern Poverty Law Center, identified nine traditional Catholic organizations---including the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary---as hate groups which it recommended for "assessment," "threat mitigation," and "source recruitment."

 

The memo also attempted to link, without evidence, the orthodox Catholic news organization, Church Militant, with racial extremists.

 

Yesterday, the FBI disavowed the memo, saying that it did "not meet the exacting standards of the FBI," adding that "Upon learning of the document, FBI Headquarters quickly began taking action to remove the document from FBI systems and conduct a review of the basis for the document."

 

The Bureau went on to say that it "will never conduct investigative activities or open an investigation based solely on First Amendment protected activity."

 

The Friends of Saint Benedict Center hailed the decision as a "victory for the Bill of Rights, the liberty of the Church and the rule of law."

 

Friends of Saint Benedict Center Communications Director C. J. Doyle stated: "While the leadership of the FBI did the right thing by quickly withdrawing this un-American document, it remains troubling that some individuals working for the nation's top law enforcement agency would have such an attenuated commitment to our constitutional freedoms."

 

"The pernicious influence of left-wing woke culture is achieving dangerous levels of penetration in mainstream American institutions, and faithful Catholics, committed to Scriptural and natural law morality, will always be among its first objects of persecution."

 

"As the courageous Anglican champion of Catholic Emancipation, John Philpot Curran, once warned, 'The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance'."