I want to say that if you think this is new, you haven't been paying attention, but the real response is that if you think this is new, the powerful have done a very successful job of keeping you in the dark.
Sorry, this is me just ranting in agreement.
Fascist need to point to someone as "the problem" so they target groups least likely to have the financial backing needed to put up a fight. If they wind up the part-time religious so they feel better about their hypocrisy all the better for fascists