An FBI investigation has been drawing concerns after a report appeared to show that the FBI was investigating Catholic churches.
Senator Tim Kaine said that it was all a big misunderstanding that resulted from vague wording in a report.
Kaine said the purpose of the investigation was actually to look into violent extremists who were targeting "radical traditionalist Catholics" in an effort to recruit them.
ABC13 asked Senator Kaine how this kind of miscommunication could be avoided in the future.
"I think the key is communication," said Kaine. "If the FBI has a concern like that, then go to the church leaders and say 'Hey look, we have a concern and we don't want your members to get unwittingly caught up in something'," he suggested.
He said similar things had been done before to protect other worshipers.
"We've done the same thing for years working in tandem with mosques because there have been groups that have tried to target or radicalize, especially young people," Kaine said.
After clarifying the matter with the FBI, Kaine said he helped connect Bishops with the FBI so they could further discuss these concerns with transparency.