UPDATE: FBI headquarters has disavowed the field office memo, responding, "This particular field office product — disseminated only within the FBI — regarding racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism does not meet the exacting standards of the FBI." The statement continued, "Upon learning of the document, FBI Headquarters quickly began taking action to remove the document from FBI systems and conduct a review of the basis for the document."

RICHMOND, VA (ChurchMilitant.com) - An internal Federal Bureau of Investigation memo, leaked online Tuesday, mentions Church Militant along with some organizations it describes as espousing "radical-traditionalist Catholic (RTC) ideology."

The Jan. 23 memo claims that Church Militant is part of "a growing overlap between the far-right white nationalist movement and RTCs."

As an example, the memo alleges a "collaboration of the far-right Catholic media outlet Church Militant (and its activist wing, the Resistance network) with the America First/'groyper' movement."

Church Militant, however, completely rejects the FBI's characterization:

The FBI report is based on "reporting" by far-left extremist groups and media outlets that demonstrate zero understanding of Catholic theology.

Those voluminous errors then found their way into this FBI report where flat-out false conclusions are drawn.

Church Militant (along with all faithful Catholics) in no way hates women, Blacks, Jews, immigrants or anyone else we may be accused of hating.

To disagree with social or political points of view does not signify "hate." It signifies disagreement.

Likewise, to bolster its fearmongering, the FBI report goes on to try and draw an imaginary link between Catholics and "White supremacy," yet it never defines what that ubiquitous term actually means.

Church Militant does not believe that "Whites are superior" or non-White races are somehow inferior. We are faithful Catholics, and Catholic teaching abhors such a notion.

CM has zero connection to any person or outfit that espouses these anti-Catholic ideologies, and it condemns such beliefs.

The FBI report falsely suggests that all of this is bound up in potential violence aimed at abortion supporters.

For the record, Church Militant in no way, shape or form supports physical violence against those with whom we disagree on the moral or political issues of the day.

The FBI defines radical-traditionalist Catholics as people who

are typically characterized by the rejection of the Second Vatican Council "Vatican II" as a valid church council; disdain for most of the popes elected since Vatican II, particularly Pope Francis and Pope John Paul II; and frequent adherence to anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ, and white supremacist ideology.

The RTCs specifically cited in the memo were taken from a 2021 list compiled by the extreme-leftist Southern Poverty Law Center.

Some of the groups identified are Catholic Family News, Fatima Crusader and The Remnant.

The SPLC has spoken about Church Militant as part of its "hatewatch" list but cites "anti-LGBTQ" ideology for its reason.

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