by Frank Holmes, reporter
The FBI used to pride itself on getting confessions—but under Joe Biden, the FBI appears to be trying to pry its way into the confessional.
A new congressional report reveals the extent to which the Biden administration pried into the religious life of the nation’s largest Christian denomination… and accused pro-life believers and those who don’t believe in transgender activism of representing a serious domestic terrorist threat.
The unbelievable details come from an in-depth research paper released by the House Judiciary Committee’s Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government.
The committee released the 30-page report, titled “The FBI’s Breach of Religious Freedom: The Weaponization of Law Enforcement Against Catholic Americans,” on Monday… and the Biden administration is looking more oppressive than ever.
The committee first learned of the Biden administration’s decision to spy on “radical-traditionalist Catholics” (RTCs) on February 8 from whistleblower Kyle Seraphin.
Seraphin produced a memo produced by the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, saying that faithful Catholics could be tied to racism, fascism, and possibly terrorist agitation.
Outraged officials demanded answers about why the federal government was spying on churches—especially under Joe Biden, who describes himself as a “devout Catholic.”
As soon as the memo leaked, the FBI went into damage control.
“This particular field office product—disseminated only within the FBI—regarding racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism does not meet the exacting standards of the FBI,” the FBI stated in a press release.
The Deep State law enforcement agency insisted that it remains committed to “upholding the constitutional rights of all Americans and will never conduct investigative activities or open an investigation based solely on First Amendment protected activity.”
But, the committee points out, the existence of the memo “itself is proof that the FBI has done just that, using taxpayer dollars,” the report states.
The First Amendment guarantees the freedom of religion. Government spying would violate the most fundamental freedom Americans enjoy. 20 state attorneys general called the memo “unAmerican and unconstitutional.”
Despite the pressure, the public didn’t get many answers…until Monday.
The report shows the FBI decided to target Catholics who attended the traditional Latin Mass—both from “mainline Catholic parishes” and the conservative Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX).
The committee found documents showing that the FBI gave a priest the third degree.
“A whistleblower also revealed that the FBI interviewed a priest and choir director of an SSPX-affiliated church in Richmond, Virginia. The interviews appear to have occurred in November and December 2022—the same time the analysts started drafting the memorandum,” the report says.
“This information, which the FBI has refused to disclose, confirms that the FBI directly communicated with Catholic clergy and staff about parishioners practicing their faith.”
That wasn’t enough: An FBI agent did meet with a bishop.
A letter obtained by the House investigation, and reproduced in the report, states that an agent met with an unnamed priest and Barry Christopher Knestout, the bishop of Richmond.
The bishop’s attorney told the FBI that “Bishop Knestout recognizes that a cooperative relationship with law enforcement could prove useful.”
The FBI found the relationship “useful,” too.
Internal FBI documents show the Biden administration said it wanted to keep the pressure on Catholics throughout “the run-up to the next general election cycle.”
The FBI memo shows that agents salivated at the idea of penetrating the Catholic church’s “diocesan leadership,” especially in an area where so many conservative politicians and political activists live.
To make matters worse, the committee learned that the FBI had relied on politically biased extremist organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) to spin its unsavory description of Catholics as racist, bigoted, fascist terrorists.
House Republicans kept on looking… and that’s when the lies really started untangling.
Although FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress on July 12 that the FBI’s anti-Catholic activity was limited to “a single field office,” the committee obtained documents weeks later showing the FBI had engaged offices all over the country, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Portland, Oregon.
That was too much for Republican senators, who confronted Wray in testimony this week.
“You said we DO NOT go to priests and ask them about their parishioners. You said we DO NOT. You didn’t say we haven’t. You didn’t say we won’t. You said we DON’T,” pointed out Senator Josh Hawley, R-Mo. “It turns out you DO.”
Hawley says heads should roll… possibly going up to Chris Wray.
“How many people were fired for targeting Catholics at the FBI? Zero,” added Hawley. “But don’t worry: Chris Wray says they were ‘admonished’ and got a ‘note in their file.’ I’m sure America’s 60 million Catholics feel much better.”
Take a look —
Sen. Hawley to Wray on the FBI targeting Catholics:
"You said we DO NOT go to priests and ask them about their parishioners. You said we DO NOT. You didn't say we haven't. You didn't say we won't. You said we DON'T. It turns out you DO." pic.twitter.com/NaSusytVs0
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) December 5, 2023
So how many people were fired for targeting Catholics at the FBI? Zero. But don’t worry: Chris Wray says they were “admonished” and got a “note in their file.” I’m sure America’s 60 million Catholics feel much better pic.twitter.com/k7AUkQgiQo
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) December 5, 2023
Not only has there been no accountability, but the FBI still stands by the research, the report states.
“The FBI may still be attempting to fashion information from the Richmond memorandum into an external-facing document,” it states.
An internal-facing document just concerns various field offices; an external-facing document would inform the entire FBI apparatus, and every agent in it, about the “threat” of radical Catholics.
What secrets is the Biden administration trying to get from Catholic priests and bishops?
What “facts” is the Biden administration circulating in its “briefings” to bishops?
Is it naming the names of “threatening” parishioners?
Is your name on the list?
Regardless, these are questions that no American should ever have to ask.
Frank Holmes is a veteran journalist and an outspoken conservative that talks about the news that was in his weekly article, “On The Holmes Front.”