Two parishioners of one Latin Mass Catholic Church reported “suspicious activity” in February as a result of a contentious FBI Richmond field office document that classified “radical-traditional Catholics” as dangerous. The Daily Signal reports that there have been rumors that government agents may be connected to the unexplained events.
Recently, two witnesses saw two cars go past the parking lot of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel in Linden, Virginia twice, according to their accounts. It is uncertain what they were trying to find out by shining their spotlights down on each car’s license plate number, but this worrisome action has attracted the attention of those who live 63 miles from Washington, D.C.
“I saw a black Ford car with dark tinted windows and a knoblike antenna on the top,” The Daily Signal was notified by a parishioner who requested anonymity. “It was driving very slowly by all the cars, and I could see a laptop in the center front.”
“I could not see the person inside, and no one ever got out,” the witness added. “They did leave as soon as they saw me looking at them.”
The second witness gave an account of “white Chevrolet Tahoe car, with very tinted windows and “lots of antennas” driving slowly through the parking lot. “Looked like a male. He had an open laptop in the middle of the car, not sure if he was typing, as the window was very dark,” the witness said.
“He never got out of the car, but by the time I saw him, he was on his way out, and drove back towards the highway after pulling through,” the second parishioner stated. “Not sure how long he was out there, as we were all inside. Everyone else was still inside the chapel, so he must have been going around while we were all inside at Mass/catechism.”
“I suspect that it was the FBI,” the parishioner added. “However, I could not confirm, since he never got out of the car.”
The FBI denied any participation when questioned about the allegations. “The Washington Field Office is not aware of that activity,” The FBI’s national headquarters informed The Daily Signal by email.
The claimed occurrences allegedly occurred around a month after FBI agents released an internal memo directing agents to create “sources with access,” including at places of worship, in order to look into a link between “racially or ethnically motivated, violent extremists” and “radical-traditional Catholic ideology.”
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The FBI retracted the letter on February 9 after a whistleblower made it public on February 8. “Well, first, let me say that when I first learned of the piece, I was aghast,” Christopher Wray, the FBI director, remarked at the time. “And we took steps immediately to withdraw it and remove it from FBI systems. It does not reflect FBI standards.”
“We do not conduct investigations based on religious affiliation or practices, full stop,” Wray added.
Recent legal actions by Catholics Vote and Judicial Watch against the FBI and DOJ were a daring attempt to ensure openness on any possible persecution of Catholic individuals or groups. In response to an ignored records request for information involving contentious federal agency activity, the case was brought.
