The F.B.I. has come under scrutiny after a leaked memo warning of potential threats from “radical-traditionalist” Catholics sparked controversy and accusations of religious persecution. According to an internal Justice Department inquiry, the memo violated professional standards but showed no evidence of malicious intent.
Republicans have seized on the memo as a talking point, criticizing the bureau and suggesting it was part of a broader campaign by the Biden administration to target Catholics and conservatives over their beliefs. The memo, drafted by F.B.I. agents in Richmond, Virginia, cited potential threats from self-identified Catholic extremists and far-right white nationalists in the lead-up to the 2024 election.
The Justice Department’s watchdog found that the F.B.I. agents improperly conflated the religious beliefs of activists with the likelihood they would engage in domestic terrorism, making it appear as if they were being targeted for their faith. However, there was no evidence that anyone ordered or directed the investigation of Catholics because of their religion.
F.B.I. Director Christopher A. Wray tightened approval requirements for such reports and admonished employees involved in the case after the memo was withdrawn. The memo was spurred by the investigation of a male resident of Henrico County who described himself as a “radical traditional Catholic Clerical Fascist” and was preparing to launch a domestic terrorist attack.
The F.B.I. placed a confidential informant in a conservative Catholic congregation attended by the man to determine if he was trying to recruit others for an attack. The bureau’s actions have raised concerns about religious profiling and surveillance within the Catholic community.
Former President Donald J. Trump and Republican lawmakers have criticized the administration for targeting Catholics, with Representative Jim Jordan and Senator Charles E. Grassley demanding answers from F.B.I. officials. The report has left important questions unanswered, including the bureau’s decision to delete files associated with the memo.
Despite the controversy, the F.B.I. maintains that there was no intent to investigate Catholics based on their religion. The inspector general’s review aligned with the bureau’s own findings, but the incident has raised concerns about the balance between national security and civil liberties in the fight against domestic terrorism.
