In a disturbing display of bureaucratic overreach, the Knights of Columbus in Petersburg, Virginia, faced unprecedented resistance from the federal government to simply hold a Catholic Mass at Poplar Grove National Cemetery on Memorial Day. This is emblematic of a growing and intolerant stance against religious freedoms under the current administration.
For over half a century, the Knights of Columbus Council 694 has held a Memorial Day Mass to honor the soldiers resting at the historic Civil War cemetery. However, the Biden administration, citing a reinterpretation of federal regulation, denied the group’s permit for both 2023 and 2024. The regulation ostensibly prohibits “special events or demonstrations,” but it has a crucial exception allowing official commemorative events for Memorial and Veterans Days. This exception had previously enabled the Knights to hold their annual Mass without issue.
The abrupt denial required the Knights to seek legal recourse, filing a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Interestingly, on the very day the lawsuit was filed. Amid heightened scrutiny brought by an amicus brief from Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, the Biden administration reversed its stance and granted the permit. Miyares highlighted the blatant violation of the Free Exercise Clause and the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), condemning the administration’s decision as intolerant and unconstitutional.
This incident is not isolated but part of a broader pattern of hostility towards Catholicism within federal policy. One notable example was an FBI memo branding traditional Catholics as potential domestic terrorist threats, warranting surveillance. Additionally, the administration has sought to dismantle conscience protections for Catholic healthcare providers, forcing them to perform procedures that contradict their religious beliefs, like abortions and gender reassignment surgeries.
Although the immediate issue has been resolved favoring religious freedom, the underlying problem persists. President Biden, despite his professed Catholic faith, has allowed and even perpetrated policies that systematically infringe upon the religious rights of Catholic individuals and organizations. This incident with the Knights of Columbus is a stark reminder of the perilous state of religious freedom under the current administration. It serves as a critical point of consideration for voters as the next election approaches. As we move forward, we must keep a vigilant eye on how these policies evolve and affect religious liberties across the nation.
