Newly subpoenaed documents obtained by the House Judiciary Committee contradict FBI director Christopher Wray’s previous testimony that only a “single field office” was responsible for the drafting of an agency memo detailing the alleged threat posed by “radical traditionalist Catholic ideology.”
Despite Wray’s initial comments, Representative Jim Jordan (R., Ohio), the committee chairman, first shared with the Wall Street Journal new evidence that the now-retracted report was drafted by an “FBI Richmond contact,” an “FBI Portland liaison contact,” an “FBI Undercover Employee,” as well as the FBI field office in Los Angeles, Calif., which reportedly “initiated an investigation” of its own.
“This revelation raises the question of why you redacted this information in previous versions of the document you produced to the Committee,” Jordan co-wrote in a Wednesday letter to Wray alongside Representative Mike Johnson (R., La.). “This new information raises additional concerns about the accuracy, completeness, and truthfulness of your testimony.”
The new disclosure prompted Jordan to “invite” Wray to amend his testimony to “explain the nature and scope of the FBI’s assessment of traditional Catholics as potential domestic terrorists.”
The FBI memo, “Interest of Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists in Radical-Traditionalist Catholic Ideology Almost Certainly Presents New Mitigation Opportunities,” was originally leaked in January and was heavily criticized by Republicans. Kyle Seraphin, a special agent with the bureau for six years who was suspended without pay in June 2022, published the document originally on UncoverDC.com.
“In making this assessment, FBI Richmond relied on the key assumption that [racially or ethnically motivated extremists] will continue to find [radical-traditionalist Catholic or RTC] ideology attractive and will continue to attempt to connect with RTC adherents, both virtually via social media and in-person at places of worship,” the January 23 document reads.
Moreover, “RTCs are typically categorized by the rejection of the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) as a valid church council; disdain for most of the popes elected since Vatican II, particularly Pope Francis and Pope John Paul II; and frequent adherence to anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ, and white supremacist ideology. Radical-traditionalist Catholics compose a small minority of overall Roman Catholic adherents and are separate and distinct from ‘traditionalist Catholics’ who prefer the Traditional Latin Mass and pre-Vatican II teachings and traditions, without the more extremist ideological beliefs and violent rhetoric.”
The report drew upon the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), an activist group, that has been criticized for including conservative organizations such as the Alliance Defending Freedom and the American College of Pediatricians on its “hate groups” list alongside the Ku Klux Klan and the Nation of Islam.
Shortly after the publication of the report, the FBI redacted the memo. “While our standard practice is to not comment on specific intelligence products, 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 bureau told National Review in a statement at the time. “Upon learning of the document, FBI Headquarters quickly began taking action to remove the document from FBI systems and conduct a review of the basis for the document. ”
In the intervening months, Representative Jordan has made a point of scrutinizing the FBI’s treatment of American Catholics. In mid July, Wray appeared before the House Judiciary Committee, where Jordan laid into the bureau director.
“Americans have seen the FBI Richmond Field Office put together a memorandum saying pro-life Catholics are extremists,” the chairman told Wray during the FBI director’s first appearance since Republicans retook control of the House.
Later in Jordan’s opening remarks, he spoke about the story of Mark Houck, a pro-life advocate arrested outside a Philadelphia, Pa., abortion clinic in 2021 on charges that he assaulted a Planned Parenthood volunteer.
Americans have “seen 20 FBI agents, SWAT team members, show up at the home of Mark Houck and arrest him in front of his wife and seven children even though he’d indicated he’d be happy to turn himself in.”
“And what was he arrested for? Him and his twelve-year-old son were praying outside an abortion facility. Some guy started screaming in his son’s face – and he did what, frankly, any dad would do – defended his child.”
“The FBI did rescind – thank goodness – the Richmond Catholic memorandum, but they refuse to tell Congress who wrote it and who approved it. And Mr. Houck, when he got his day in court, he was acquitted by a jury of his peers.”