A man carrying a Molotov cocktail was arrested outside a prominent Catholic church in Washington, D.C., just hours before an annual religious service attended by high-ranking officials, as CNA reports.

Louis Geri, 41, of Vineland, New Jersey, was taken into custody early Sunday morning after refusing to leave the grounds of the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle ahead of the Red Mass, triggering a security lockdown that kept even Supreme Court justices away.

Members of the Metropolitan Police Department found Geri camping in a tent on the steps of the cathedral around 6 a.m., where they later discovered what authorities described as an incendiary device along with suspicious liquids and apparent fireworks.

Molotov and Threat Charges Spark Investigation

Geri faces multiple charges, including unlawful entry, threats to kidnap or injure, and possession of a Molotov cocktail — a phrase no one expects to hear outside a church in the capital city of the United States.

Police noted that Geri had been previously banned from the church property, although specifics about that prohibition were not disclosed. He refused to comply when asked to vacate the area but was arrested without resistance.

The situation escalated quickly as specialists from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team and the Arson Task Force were called in to secure the scene, underscoring just how seriously law enforcement took the threat.

Red Mass Tradition Interrupted by Security Threat

The Red Mass, scheduled for 9 a.m. that morning, is an annual gathering held on the Sunday before the Supreme Court’s session begins. Its purpose is as noble as they come — to pray for wisdom and moral clarity for those working in law and public service.

This year, however, that tradition was disrupted. Security concerns after the arrest of Geri were enough to keep all Supreme Court justices away, a stark departure from the norm.

While many questions remain unanswered about Geri’s motives, the coordinated law enforcement response now involves several federal entities, including the FBI, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Concerns Mount Over Growing Political Tensions

This unsettling incident did not occur in a vacuum. It follows a troubling pattern of politically charged disruptions and even outright attacks at places of worship in other states like Minnesota and Michigan.

Cardinal Robert McElroy, delivering the homily during the Mass, didn’t shy away from the topic. “It is certainly true that political violence has been a part of our history as a nation and that political dialogue has often been confrontational,” he said, offering perhaps more reflection than concrete solutions.

But he quickly pivoted: “We live at a moment in which politics is tribal, not dialogical, and where party label has become a shorthand for worldview on the most volatile topics in our national life. The result is explosive, within politics, family life, and friendships.” Explosive indeed, Cardinal — and this time, literally so.

Defending Civil Discourse in an Intolerant Climate

McElroy went on to challenge America’s legal minds to elevate the tone of politics. “As students of the law, as leaders in the law... you are by that commitment privileged and obligated to raise the plane of our political and social discussion,” he urged.

That’s a noble charge, but it’s hard to reconcile with current events like this one. When Molotov cocktails start making appearances in these sacred spaces — not as props but as potential weapons — clearly, we’ve strayed too far from constructive dissent.

This disturbing moment ought to be a wake-up call, not just for church security or law enforcement, but for the broader political culture that increasingly tolerates and even encourages radicalization.

Justice, Safety, and Constitutional Values at Stake

Let’s not forget, this was a church in the nation’s capital — a site historically visited by the very guardians of our Constitution. Yet because of one man’s violent threats, those guardians stayed home.

Thankfully, no one was harmed, but the message was loud and clear: our commitment to public safety and the rule of law cannot be taken for granted. And our leaders, both spiritual and judicial, are targets when that commitment wavers.

Citizens of all beliefs, political affiliations, and backgrounds should find common cause in defending spaces of reflection and civic responsibility — not just from violence, but from the silence that follows when good people grow numb to disorder.