The attack on religious liberty, and Christians in particular, has just crossed another dangerous line. The FBI's Richmond, Virginia, division produced an intelligence report claiming that "white supremacy" is rampant among Orthodox Catholic groups that desire to retain the Latin Mass in Catholic churches. Just as disturbing is that the FBI expressed confidence it could infiltrate the traditionalist Catholics.
This attack on "orthodox" Catholics is unacceptable and likely unconstitutional. The FBI relied on the Southern Poverty Law Center, which is a leftist smear group that has repeatedly labeled conservative evangelicals and Catholics as "bigots," "Christian Nationalists" and "fascists."
When a "whistleblower" exposed this attack on Catholic conservatives, the FBI's Richmond Division quickly withdrew the intelligence report. Critics believe they did so only because the FBI was caught "red-handed."
Another former FBI insider, Kyle Seraphin, said the FBI's report focusing on traditionalist Catholics is a "gateway" to "move into Christians in general and declare them to be the actual criminals in this country or potential terrorists."
Jason Miyares, the attorney general of Virginia, along with 19 other state attorneys general have demanded the FBI immediately stop the targeting of Catholics and produce "all materials" related to the report. They sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, calling the FBI intelligence report "un-American" and "anti-Catholic." Attorney General Miyares said the FBI report was "what I would expect from communist Cuba."
This is how real, deadly persecution has always started throughout history against Christians around the world. It is another reason why pastors and priests who say they don't want to be involved in influencing government or debates in the "public square" are being incredibly short-sighted. Our religious freedom is a great blessing won by courageous men and women who built our constitutional Republic. We have a moral obligation to protect and defend it now.