A newly released Department of Justice report is drawing sharp attention to the treatment of religious Americans during the tenure of Joe Biden, alleging what it describes as a pattern of “aggressive persecutions” targeting Christians with “traditional biblical views.”
The 200-page report, issued Thursday by the DOJ’s Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias, outlines a range of actions across multiple federal agencies that it claims disproportionately affected religious individuals and organizations. According to the report, the administration “zealously” investigated Christians and, in some instances, monitored Catholic clergy.
Central to the report’s findings is the assertion that federal policies forced believers into difficult legal and moral positions. “Biden officials ‘forc[ed] Christians with traditional biblical views to choose whether to live in accordance with their faith or risk violating federal law,’” the report states. It adds that while private religious beliefs were generally tolerated, actions rooted in those beliefs were often subject to scrutiny or restriction.
The document builds on earlier findings from the DOJ’s Weaponization Working Group, which examined enforcement patterns under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. According to the report, pro-life activists were subject to more aggressive enforcement compared to their pro-abortion counterparts. “Pro-life defendants were ultimately sentenced to an average of 14 months, while pro-abortion defendants were sentenced to an average of 3 months,” the report reads. It also details FBI raids on activists’ homes and alleges that abortion-rights groups shared personal information with federal authorities.
Beyond law enforcement, the report highlights actions by other federal agencies. The Internal Revenue Service is cited in one instance for denying tax-exempt status to a Christian organization. The denial letter reportedly stated that the group’s “[B]ible teachings are typically affiliated with the [Republican] party and candidates,” concluding that such alignment disqualified it from exemption under federal law.
The Department of Education also comes under scrutiny. The report points to a $37.7 million fine imposed on Grand Canyon University over tuition reporting practices. The penalty is described as disproportionate when compared to similar cases. Then-Education Secretary Miguel Cardona defended the action at the time, stating the department was “cracking down” not only to address alleged misconduct but “to send a message not to prey on students.”
One of the most widely discussed elements of the report revisits the controversy surrounding a January 2023 FBI memo produced by the bureau’s Richmond Field Office. The memo suggested investigating “radical-traditionalist” Catholics and cited the Southern Poverty Law Center as a source. Though later retracted after public backlash, the memo had been distributed to more than 1,000 FBI employees.
According to the report, the memo stemmed from an investigation into Xavier Louis Lopez, a self-described “radical traditional Catholic Clerical Fascist” who was later convicted of possessing destructive devices. However, the report criticizes the scope of the investigation, noting that agents tracked a parish priest and opened a “Guardian profile” on a Catholic chapel that “played no role whatsoever” in Lopez’s criminal activity.
The priest’s reluctance to cooperate with investigators—citing a need to consult legal counsel—was deemed “suspicious” by agents, according to internal communications. Despite public apologies from former FBI Director Christopher Wray and former Attorney General Merrick Garland, internal emails suggest some officials stood by the investigation. One such email from Stanley Meador encouraged a colleague, stating, “No apology needed.”
The report also examines broader policy decisions, including the administration’s interpretation of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County. It argues that federal agencies expanded the ruling beyond its original scope, mandating acceptance of gender identity policies while rejecting religious exemptions from employees at federally funded institutions.
Additionally, the report highlights symbolic and international actions it characterizes as dismissive of Christian concerns. These include the removal of Nigeria from a list of countries of particular concern for religious freedom, despite ongoing violence against Christians, and a proclamation recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility on the same day as Easter Sunday in 2024.
In a statement accompanying the report, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized the task force’s mission. “No American should live in fear that the federal government will punish them for their faith,” Blanche said. “The Department of Justice will continue to expose bad actors who targeted Christians and work tirelessly to restore religious liberty for all Americans of faith.”
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