FBI Hatched Plan To Surveil Catholics, Weaponization Committee Says

Washington Free Beacon ^ | April 10, 2023 | Chuck Ross

[Twotone]

The FBI hatched a plan this year to cultivate sources inside Catholic churches to investigate religious extremism, House Republicans found.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio), the chairman of the House Select Subcommittee on Weaponization, said in a letter Monday that the FBI, using information from an undercover employee, sought to develop sources—including clergy members and church leaders—inside Catholic churches in Virginia.

According to Jordan, the FBI's plan called for the bureau to engage in outreach to "mainline Catholic parishes" to make congregations aware of "the warning signs of radicalization" and to "enlist their assistance to serve as suspicious activity tripwires." The FBI also proposed that agents reach out to Catholic parishes to "develop sources among the clergy and church leadership."

It is unclear whether the FBI planned to surveil the churches through covert means or to make contact with parishes through official FBI channels. But Jordan said that the revelations warrant a subpoena for all information related to the matter.

"This shocking information reinforces our need for all responsive documents, and the committee is issuing a subpoena to you to compel your full cooperation," Jordan wrote to Wray.

Republicans began investigating the matter after the January release of an FBI memo that detailed the bureau's efforts to infiltrate a group of Catholic parishes in the Richmond, Va., area. The FBI last month produced a limited number of records as part of the probe, one of which discussed "opportunities" for the FBI to "leverage existing sources" or develop new ones who could report on suspicious activity within their parishes.

Jordan asserted that the documents show "the FBI sought to enlist Catholic houses of worship as potential sources to monitor and report on their parishioners."

"Americans attend church to worship and congregate for their spiritual and personal betterment. They must be free to exercise their fundamental First Amendment rights without worrying that the FBI may have planted so-called tripwire sources or other informants in their houses of worship," the Republican wrote.

Republicans formed the weaponization subcommittee earlier this year to investigate the FBI and Justice Department's targeting of conservatives through collusion with Big Tech companies or through the use of illegal surveillance. The subcommittee has investigated the interactions between FBI agents and social media companies, such as Twitter and Facebook.

The committee has also held hearings related to a Biden administration task force that investigated parents who spoke at school boards as potential domestic terrorists. Last month, Republicans released a report that said the FBI disclosed that it opened at least 25 investigations into parents based on tips related to their conduct at school board meetings.

[alternatives?]

So. What are you going to do?

[Bookshelf]

It seems both the FBI and the Democrat Party have a death wish; one that will take the Republic down with it to the depths of Hell.

[Moorings]

Insidious! We have become like red China, with government spies in the church to report on the church and its members.

I thought I just read an article which seems to suggest that they actually recruited someone - so going beyond a plan.

[Moorings]

Don't know what is the point of having hearings with Wray. He will do the "I dindoo nuffin" or "I dontno nuffin" or "Talk to the hand" answers to questions from republicans.

Wray is Mitch McConnell's boy, brought in during the Trump term to ensure that Trump does not do anything to disturb their agenda, and to ensure that Trump does not get a second term.

So Wray has bipartisan support to do whatever he wants, and now with the democrats in power it has gone full Soviet.

[Antoninus]

The Know Nothings are back. Not like they ever left...

[PatriotarchyQ]

Is it even the FBI’s job to bust pedo rings? I thought that was on state and local law enforcement.

[Romulus]

In practically every country on earth, the Catholic Church has been criminalized at one time or another. It was true in many of the 13 colonies, and I fully expect it to be the case again in today’s USA.

[M Kehoe]

Hi.

Since 1990 the FBI has demonstrated that the agency needs an overhaul and reduced funding.

Too many examples of mis conduct and abuse of power to cite in one post.

5.56mm

[Boogieman]

‘... to make congregations aware of “the warning signs of radicalization”’

I got a leaked copy of the document listing these “warning signs”. They include:

* Believing the Bible is the Word of God.
* Believing Jesus Christ is real and is the Son of God.
* Believing that Christians aspire to follow Christ’s example, instead of conforming to the world.

Real wild and crazy stuff these radicals are pushing, I tell ya.

[Vaduz]

Religion = Anti Communism

Enemy of the state per FIB?