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2 clusters · 12 sources · 3 days · First seen 14 days ago · Last updated 12 days ago

DOJ investigation into FBI surveillance of Catholic clergy

Overview

A Department of Justice Weaponization Working Group report has detailed FBI surveillance of Catholic priests and clergy linked to a 2023 Richmond memo. The memo had characterized “radical traditional Catholics” as potential domestic violent extremists, utilizing framing from the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The investigation found that the FBI conducted physical surveillance and tracked the financial and travel movements of two priests associated with the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (FSSPX). Although the FBI ultimately concluded these individuals posed no national security threat, the report alleges that internal work on the memo continued even after headquarters ordered its deletion in February 2023.

While the personnel responsible for the document have been terminated, the report criticizes the bureau for taking minimal corrective action following the initial leak. Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel have condemned the incident, stating the department will not tolerate a “weaponized bureaucracy” that infringes on First Amendment activities or chills religious practice.

Entities

Todd Blanche · Southern Poverty Law Center · FBI · Department of Justice · Federal Bureau of Investigation

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Coverage disagrees

Sources make claims that cannot both be true. CLSTR reports the disagreement; it does not decide who is right.

"The FBI took minimal corrective action following the leak of the Richmond memo regarding traditionalist Catholics." catholicvirginian.org

vs

"Personnel responsible for the Richmond memo have been terminated from their roles." catholicvirginian.org

The first claim asserts that the FBI took minimal corrective action, while the second claim asserts that the personnel responsible were terminated.

[DISPUTED] The FBI took minimal corrective action following the leak of the Richmond memo regarding traditionalist Catholics. catholicvirginian.org
[DISPUTED] Personnel responsible for the Richmond memo have been terminated from their roles. catholicvirginian.org
[○ 1 SOURCE] A 2024 watchdog review found no evidence of religious bias by those who created the memo. catholicvirginian.org
[○ 1 SOURCE] Internal work on the memo continued via an analyst revising the document after it was publicly withdrawn in February 2023. 100percentfedup.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] FBI counterterrorism specialists questioned the connection between the religious community and violent extremism. 100percentfedup.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The FBI investigated two priests linked to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X. freerepublic.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Investigations into the priests found no identified threat to national security and no federal violations. freerepublic.com

Timeline

12 days ago

[POLITICS] 7 sources
DOJ report alleges minimal FBI action after Richmond Catholic memo
A DOJ report alleges the FBI took minimal action after a 2023 memo targeted traditionalist Catholics, revealing that internal work on the document continued even after its public withdrawal.
14 days ago

[POLITICS] 6 sources
FBI surveilled Catholic priests regarding Richmond memo, DOJ report finds
A DOJ report reveals the FBI surveilled Catholic priests and continued working on a controversial memo targeting traditional Catholics after headquarters ordered its deletion.

Sources

100percentfedup.com · catholicvirginian.org · freerepublic.com · justthenews.com · lifesite.net · lucianne.com · offthepress.com · peppe.rs · sgtreport.com · theblaze.com · urbansitter.com · washingtonexaminer.com