The FBI Tried to Get Informants Inside Catholic Churches
The House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government has released new details about the FBI’s targeting of Catholic churches and First Amendment rights violations of worshippers.
“From this limited production, it is apparent that the FBI, relying on information derived from at least one undercover employee, sought to use local religious organizations as ‘new avenues for tripwire and source development,'” the Committee released Monday afternoon. “For example, in a section of a January 23, 2023, domain perspective document entitled ‘Opportunities,’ The document itself shows that its contents, including its proposal to develop sources in Catholic churches, were reviewed and approved by two senior intelligence analysts and even the local Chief Division Counsel. Whistleblowers have advised that the FBI distributed this document to field offices across the country.”
According to Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, which oversees the weaponization subcommittee, the FBI sought to use confidential informants inside a number of Catholic congregations in order to look for “radicalization.”
-This proposed outreach plan included contacting so-called “mainline Catholic parishes” and the local “diocesan leadership.”
— Weaponization Committee (@Weaponization) April 10, 2023
-In light of this information and the serious consequences for the free exercise of Americans’ First Amendment rights, Chairman Jordan issued a subpoena today to FBI Director Wray for all documents related to the FBI’s actions.
— Weaponization Committee (@Weaponization) April 10, 2023
“In addition to [redaction], engage in outreach to the leadership of other [Society of Saint Pius X] chapels in the FBI Richmond [area of responsibility] to sensitize these congregations to the warning signs of radicalization and to enlist their assistance to serve as suspicious activity tripwires,” the FBI wrote, adding the Bureau’s goal to “sensitize the congregation to the warning signs of radicalization and enlist their assistance to serve as suspicious activity tripwires” and “leverag[ing] existing sources and/or initiat[ing] Type 5 Assessments to develop new sources with the placement and access” to report on suspicious activity.”
We now know the FBI, relying on information derived from at least one undercover employee, sought to use local religious organizations as “new avenues for tripwire and source development.”
Chilling. pic.twitter.com/X6Ksb9ryoM
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) April 10, 2023
(Read more from “The FBI Tried to Get Informants Inside Catholic Churches” HERE)
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