This past Sunday, in what can only be described as a chilling sign of our times, a man was arrested outside St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, D.C., just hours before the U.S. Supreme Court justices were set to attend the annual Red Mass. His name is Louis Geri, a 41-year-old from New Jersey. He wasn’t there to worship. He wasn’t there to pray. He was there with over 200 explosive devices and a clear intent to threaten lives and strike fear into the heart of our nation’s capital.
This attack—thankfully stopped in time—is not just a crime. It is part of a larger and more disturbing pattern we have been witnessing across the country. It is a pattern of hatred, lawlessness, and deep disrespect for American institutions—especially our faith, our courts, and the rule of law.
According to police, Geri had set up a tent on the steps of the cathedral and refused to move when asked. Instead, he made threats. “I have explosives,” he warned. He even asked officers if they wanted him to toss one out to prove it. He spoke of blowing up a tree as a demonstration of his power. He told officers that people would die. These were not empty threats. When he was finally arrested, he had a functioning explosive device on him, and others were found to contain nitromethane, a deadly compound used in improvised bombs.
Let us be clear: this was not the act of a troubled man simply crying for help. This was a calculated threat timed to coincide with an important religious and civic event. The Red Mass is a tradition that dates back centuries, where judges, lawyers, and public officials gather to seek God’s guidance as they begin a new term. That the justices of the Supreme Court—who are tasked with guarding our Constitution—had to stay away for their own safety is a disgrace.
What’s more troubling is what Geri’s own writings revealed. In a document titled “Written Negotiations for the Avoidance of Destruction of Property via Detonation of Explosives,” he laid out his hatred for the Catholic Church, Jews, the Supreme Court, and ICE. What does this tell us? It tells us that this man was driven by a deep, poisonous ideology—an ideology that hates faith, hates authority, and hates the very foundations of this country.
This is the fruit of years of leftist rhetoric that demonizes religion, mocks law enforcement, and undermines our justice system. When people are told over and over again that the courts are illegitimate, the Church is oppressive, and law enforcement is evil, is it any wonder that sick minds act on those lies?
We must return to the values that built this country. Faith. Family. Law and order. Respect for authority. And yes, love of country. These are not outdated ideas. They are the bedrock of a free society. When we tear down those cornerstones, we invite chaos. We invite men like Louis Geri to take the stage.
Thanks to the brave men and women of the Metropolitan Police and the D.C. bomb squad, a tragedy was prevented. But we cannot afford to treat this as just another crime. This was a hate crime. This was an act of domestic terrorism. And it was aimed at some of the most sacred institutions in America.
The question we must ask ourselves is this: what kind of country do we want to live in? One where churches are safe and judges are respected? Or one where extremists rule the streets and threaten to blow up our places of worship?
We must choose wisely. And we must speak plainly. Evil is real. Hate is real. But so is truth. So is justice. And so is the power of a people united by faith and common sense.
Let us pray that our leaders have the courage to call this what it is. Let us teach our children to love their country, not hate it. And let us never forget that freedom requires vigilance—and the will to stand up against darkness when it comes knocking at the door of the church.
