Extra FBI powers draw mixed Newport-Mesa reviews

Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT-MESA -- The Justice Department’s decision Thursday to hand FBI

agents broader authority to monitor churches, public libraries and

Internet sites for clues to terrorist activities is getting mixed

reactions here.

Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller announced the

changes saying FBI agents in the field have been hampered by bureaucratic

restrictions and that these new guidelines will help them do their jobs

better.

Newport Beach City Manager Homer Bludau said it remains to be seen how

the new rules will affect civil liberties, but added that “it’s a sign of

the times.”

“It seems like a good way to prevent terrorist activity as opposed to

responding to them,” he said. “Not many will be pleased about it, but I

understand that it’s an effort to protect our communities.”

Under the existing guidelines, FBI agents cannot surf the Web or

simply walk into public events to observe people and activities. The new

guidelines will give the agents more freedom to investigate terrorism

even when they are not pursuing a particular case.

They would also have the liberty to walk into and observe activities

in churches and places of worship.

Gary Collins, pastor at St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach,

said he is not pleased with the idea of FBI agents spying on his

congregation.

“It’s one thing to observe people they know are suspects,” he said.

“But there’s a separation we need to maintain [between church and

state].”

Collins said he would be more than willing to cooperate with any FBI

investigation relating to terrorists, but would not welcome them

“infiltrating his congregation” for the purpose of spying.

While such spying activity can infringe on people’s rights, it may

help to be proactive, Bludau said.

“We need to learn from the Sept. 11 attacks,” he said. “Our government

is telling us we’re going to be attacked again and we need to make sure

that does not happen.”