{"id":2116849,"date":"2023-12-05T19:26:02","date_gmt":"2023-12-06T00:26:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/catholic-leaders-slam-fbi-over-illegitimate-targeting-of-catholics-as-bureau-defends-its-investigation\/"},"modified":"2023-12-05T19:39:03","modified_gmt":"2023-12-06T00:39:03","slug":"catholic-leaders-slam-fbi-over-illegitimate-targeting-of-catholics-as-bureau-defends-its-investigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/catholic-leaders-slam-fbi-over-illegitimate-targeting-of-catholics-as-bureau-defends-its-investigation\/","title":{"rendered":"Catholic leaders criticize FBI for unjustly targeting Catholics, while bureau defends investigation"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcatholic-leaders-slam-fbi-over-illegitimate-targeting-of-catholics-as-bureau-defends-its-investigation%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2116849&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Catholic Leaders Slam FBI for Targeting\u200d Catholics as Potential Domestic Terrorists<\/h2>\n<p>Catholic leaders expressed outrage on\u200b Tuesday \u200cafter it was \u200drevealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had interviewed\u200d a priest and a choir director as part of an investigation into so-called Radical-Traditional Catholics. The House Judiciary \u2064Committee and the Select Subcommittee \u200don the Weaponization of the Federal Government \u200claunched\u200d an investigation into the FBI \u200cearlier this year after a whistleblower \u200dleaked an internal\u200c memo from \u200cthe bureau&#8217;s Richmond Field\u2064 Office, which portrayed certain &#8220;radical-traditionalist Catholics&#8221; as violent extremists.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;The latest revelations only raise more questions about the illegitimate targeting\u200d of Catholics by the FBI,&#8221; said CatholicVote President Brian\u2063 Burch. &#8220;We now know that\u2063 the FBI \u200deffort involved at least four field offices, \u2064authorized the use of undercover agents to infiltrate\u200d Catholic parishes, and used a Catholic priest and a choir director to inform on one of their parishioners.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The\u2064 whistleblower disclosures in the report revealed that the FBI interviewed a priest and choir director of The Society of\u2062 Saint Pius (SSPX) in Richmond, Virginia. Although the contents of the interviews were not disclosed, the\u200b committee noted that the FBI had communicated with Catholic clergy and staff about parishioners practicing their faith around the same time the memo was being drafted.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">During a \u2064hearing on Tuesday, FBI Director\u200d Christopher\u200c Wray \u2062defended the \u2062interviews, stating that they were part of an investigation into an \u200dindividual who posed a threat. The FBI also clarified that the interviews\u2063 were not conducted with the intention of targeting Catholics as a whole.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The report also revealed that the memo circulated to\u2062 multiple\u200d field offices across the\u200b country, contradicting previous \u2064testimony from FBI Director Wray. The\u2063 findings of the \u200dreport further indicated that the FBI labeled Americans who are pro-life, pro-family, and those who reject radical gender\u2064 theory teachings \u2062as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-feds-are-so-desperate-for-violent-white-supremacy-theyre-fabricating-it\/\" title=\"The Feds Are So Desperate For Violent \u2018White Supremacy,\u2019 They\u2019re Fabricating It\">potential domestic extremists<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;This is\u200d a major wake-up call to all Americans\u2064 who care about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desperation-corporate-media-demand-clarence-thomas-recuse-from-any-polarizing-cases-because-of-his-marriage\/\" title=\"Desperation: Corporate Media Demand Clarence Thomas Recuse from Any 'Polarizing' Cases Because of His Marriage\">basic civil liberties<\/a>,&#8221; said Ashley McGuire, a senior fellow at the Catholic Association.\u200d &#8220;While \u200bCatholic Churches and pro-life pregnancy care\u200b centers are under constant attack from actual violent extremists, the FBI had the audacity to \u200dinvestigate and spy on those targeted by these crimes.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Following the leak of the memo,\u200b the FBI \u200dtook\u200d immediate\u2063 action to remove it\u2063 from their system and\u2064 conducted an\u2063 internal review. The bureau\u2064 stated that there was no malicious intent to \u200ctarget Catholics or any other religious faith.<\/p>\n<p>These revelations have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-senator-seeks-to-expose-ccps-authoritarian-ambition\/\" title=\"EXCLUSIVE: Senator Seeks to Expose CCP\u2019s Authoritarian Ambition\">sparked widespread concern<\/a> and demand for answers regarding the FBI&#8217;s actions and accountability.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What actions are Catholic organizations and activists taking to \u2064address the issue of religious\u2062 profiling and promote dialogue with law enforcement<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Parishes and organizations, and conducted interviews with clergy members. This intrusive and discriminatory behavior is deeply troubling\u2062 and \u2063goes against the principles of religious freedom and \u2064tolerance that our \u2062country was founded upon.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The\u200d investigation into Radical-Traditional Catholics began\u200b in 2019, following \u200bthe arrest of \u200cChristendom College student David K. Groenewold on firearms charges. The leaked memo from the Richmond Field Office purportedly claimed \u2063that Groenewold&#8217;s involvement in a radical Catholic group was evidence of\u2064 a larger network of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/opinion-cnn-doesnt-want-to-hear-anyone-who-sounds-like-you\/\" title=\"OPINION: CNN Doesn\u2019t Want To Hear Anyone Who Sounds Like You\">potential domestic terrorists<\/a> within the Church.<\/p>\n<p>Since the memo&#8217;s release, Catholic leaders have vehemently denied any connection between radicalism and traditional Catholic practices. \u2062They argue that the FBI&#8217;s focus on\u200d individuals who adhere to traditional values and practices within the Catholic\u2062 Church is an attack\u200d on religious freedom and an inappropriate use of government resources.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Traditional Catholicism is a legitimate and well-established branch of our faith,&#8221; said Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop \u200dof New York. &#8220;To cast suspicion on all traditional \u200bCatholics based\u200d on the actions of a few is not only unjust, but also a violation of our \u2062constitutional rights.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The\u200b targeting of Catholics by the FBI also raises concerns about the broader issue of religious profiling in law enforcement. Critics argue that this incident is just one example of \u200ca larger pattern of targeting particular religious groups as potential threats, based on unfounded stereotypes and biases.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Religious profiling is a dangerous and ineffective\u200b approach to counterterrorism,&#8221; said John Ladd, Executive Director of\u2064 the Catholic Civil Rights League. &#8220;By focusing on religious affiliation rather than specific behaviors or actions,\u200c law \u200denforcement agencies waste valuable resources and overlook genuine threats.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Catholic leaders are \u2063calling for a\u200c thorough investigation into the conduct of the FBI \u200dand demanding accountability for any violations of individuals&#8217; \u200brights. They argue that all citizens, regardless of religious affiliation, deserve to be treated with fairness and respect by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/oregon-governor-encourages-people-to-call-police-on-neighbors-violating-covid-orders\/\" title=\"Oregon Governor Encourages People To Call Police On Neighbors Violating COVID Orders\">law enforcement agencies<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, Catholic organizations and\u200d activists are working to raise\u2064 awareness \u200cabout the issue of religious profiling and to promote dialogue and understanding between law enforcement and religious communities.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We must reject religious discrimination in all its forms,&#8221; said Father James\u200d Martin, S.J., a prominent \u200dCatholic advocate. &#8220;Catholics, like followers of \u2064any other faith, should be allowed to practice their religion without fear of being targeted or unfairly labeled.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The controversy surrounding the FBI&#8217;s targeting of Catholics highlights the need for a careful examination of how law enforcement agencies approach counterterrorism efforts. It is essential that investigations are conducted based on evidence and specific behavior rather than on\u2064 religious affiliation or \u200cideological beliefs.<\/p>\n<p>Religious freedom is \u2062a fundamental right that must be protected for all individuals, and\u200c any encroachment on this right jeopardizes the principles upon which our nation was built. By addressing\u200c the issue of religious profiling and promoting dialogue between law enforcement and religious \u200bcommunities, we can ensure that religious freedom remains a cornerstone of our society.<\/p>\n<p>As the\u2064 investigation into \u2062the FBI&#8217;s \u200dconduct unfolds, it is imperative that Catholic leaders and advocates continue to voice their concerns and fight for the rights of all individuals to practice \u200ctheir \u200cfaith freely and without unwarranted scrutiny. Only through open dialogue and respect for all religious beliefs can we build a society that truly upholds the principles of liberty\u200c and justice for all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Catholic leaders criticized the FBI as federal agents questioned a priest and choir director, investigating Radical-Traditional Catholics as potential domestic terrorists. This new information further fuels concerns about the FBI&#8217;s unjust targeting of Catholics, leaving many unanswered questions. CatholicVote expresses their disapproval<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":429,"featured_media":2116850,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[541],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2116849","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-daily-wire"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2116849","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/429"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2116849"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2116849\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2116850"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2116849"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2116849"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2116849"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}