Intelligence analysts and the chief counsel for the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Richmond, Virginia field office are concerned “radical-traditionalist Catholics” are a threat to our democracy and could be ripe for recruitment by white supremacists.
Although FBI headquarters has tried to distance itself from the memo, that does not change the fact that multiple staffers, including a senior attorney, signed off on the intelligence bulletin. That bulletin relied on an Atlantic article about rosary prayer beads being a “weapon” and the grifting hate group called the Southern Poverty Law Center. The retraction does not remove the attitude within the Richmond field office that Catholics who like the Latin Mass or hold conservative views are threats.
Given how the U.S. Department of Justice, FBI, and federal government in general have repeatedly targeted conservatives for their speech and beliefs, it might be good to consider some warning signs that possibly landed traditional, faithful Catholics on the radar of law enforcement.
As someone who attends the traditional Latin Mass and knows many traditional Catholics across the country, I think I know several things that prompted the memo.
1. Interest in Homeschooling
A common interest in Latin Mass parishes and among traditional Catholics is homeschooling. This should not be surprising given the degeneracy and filth in U.S. public schools. Of course, another reason is that many Latin Mass Catholics take seriously the biblical directive that parents are the primary educators of their children.
“Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children.
