A Pennsylvania man is facing felony charges after authorities say he threatened violence against a Catholic parish and school while worshippers and students were gathered on campus.
According to LifeSiteNews, 37-year-old Cristopher Henderson was arrested on June 9 after allegedly posting threatening messages directed at St. Pius X Parish in Broomall, Pennsylvania. The parish serves more than 3,300 families and includes both a church and school.
Authorities said Henderson posted on social media that he was driving to the parish and threatened those gathered there. Community members who saw the message quickly alerted police, allowing officers to respond before any harm occurred.
According to Daily Voice, law enforcement immediately secured the parish grounds while Mass was underway and classes and other activities were taking place. Officers then located and arrested Henderson while he was driving.
Police charged Henderson with felony terroristic threats with intent to terrorize another, a third-degree felony. He was committed to the Delaware County prison after failing to post $500,000 bail.
The arrest came just days after another concerning encounter involving the same individual. According to CBS News, Henderson had previously made disturbing remarks about St. Pius X Parish and was present at the church on Sunday. Police reportedly questioned and detained him at that time but released him because no crime had been committed.
During that encounter, Henderson allegedly asked officers, “Do you come here every Sunday or is this just for me?” According to CBS News, he also remarked, “You never know when someone is going to randomly come shoot up the place.”
Following Tuesday’s arrest, authorities emphasized that the threat had been neutralized.
“We are aware of some alarming social media posts directed towards St. Pius X,” Marple Township Police said in a statement, according to LifeSiteNews. “The individual responsible for making those posts is currently in our custody, under arrest, and awaiting arraignment.”
Police also reassured parishioners and parents that additional officers would remain at the parish through the end of the school day and stated that there was no ongoing threat to the public.
Marple Township Police Chief Brandon Graeff praised the swift response by community members and law enforcement. “I firmly believe we stopped a tragedy before it happened. I really do believe that,” he said, according to LifeSiteNews.
Court records cited by Daily Voice indicate Henderson also faces other active criminal charges, including aggravated assault and terroristic threats stemming from a separate case in April.
A judge has ordered Henderson to undergo a psychological evaluation and prohibited him from entering Marple Township, where St. Pius X Parish is located, except for matters related to his court proceedings. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 25.
The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of Catholic churches and schools amid a continuing pattern of anti-Catholic hostility across the United States. Catholic organizations have documented hundreds of attacks against churches, religious statues, schools, and other Catholic institutions in recent years.
For many Catholics, the events at St. Pius X serve as a reminder of the importance of vigilance, prayer, and gratitude for the quick actions that may have prevented a tragedy from unfolding.
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