The leak: Recently, former-FBI agent and Catholic whistleblower Kyle Seraphin leaked documents that indicate the bureau is targeting and trying to manufacture crimes against traditional Catholics. The internal FBI memo repeatedly attempts to tie “radical traditionalist Catholic ideology” (RTCs) and preference for the traditional Latin Mass with threats of white supremacy, antisemitism, anti-LGBT, and other forms of political extremism the FBI has clamped down on.

The FBI responds: The FBI quickly removed the document from its system, claiming that it did not meet the "standards of the FBI.”

Why is this happening? The internal memo appears to be drafted with political bias. It notes RTCs’ opposition to “abortion rights” and cites a list of “Radical Traditional Catholicism Hate Groups” compiled by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a progressive law firm that has historically labeled conservative groups as hate groups.

FBI’s persecution of Catholics isn’t new: In September, the FBI arrested pro-life activist Mark Houck after raiding his home. He was cleared of charges for defending his son against an aggressive Planned Parenthood volunteer in October 2021. Similar cases of weaponizing the FBI and the Department of Justice against conservative groups are set to be investigated by Congress in the coming weeks.