A newly released 230-page Department of Justice report investigates the FBI’s 2023 Richmond memo that characterized certain traditional Catholics as potential domestic extremists. The FBI developed a profile of “radical traditionalist Catholics” that associated traditional Catholic beliefs, opposition to abortion and LGBTQ ideology, rejection of aspects of modernity, and support for traditional religious practices with extremist and violent ideologies. The memo improperly conflated mainstream Catholic teachings with extremism and specifically targeted organizations connected to the Traditional Latin Mass, including the Society of Saint Pius X.
The Richmond analysis drew information from multiple FBI field offices, was circulated to more than 1,000 FBI employees, and led to additional documents using similar terminology. Analysts considered expanding the investigation into a nationwide intelligence product, the “SPEAR” report, but never issued it.
The Justice Department now describes the Richmond memo as a serious failure and says those involved are no longer with the department. But the segment questions whether accountability has been sufficient. The individuals involved have not been publicly identified, and former FBI leadership has not faced the punishment the speaker believes is warranted. The targeting of traditional Catholics was real. The question is whether anyone will be held responsible, or whether the institutions responsible will continue to protect themselves while the faithful remain exposed.
