Christmas Eve Chaos At Maryland Churches Reminds Evil Lurks Even In Times Of Joy

A disruptive series of events at two Maryland churches on Christmas Eve served as a chilling reminder that even during celebrations of faith, malevolence can creep in.

Thomas Campbell Bolling Von Goetz, 56, is accused of a bizarre rampage that disrupted two Catholic Masses. His actions began around 5 p.m. at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Avenue, Maryland, where he reportedly dropped an onion in the aisle as he approached the altar. As a parishioner followed him outside, Von Goetz allegedly responded by hurling tangerines before fleeing the scene.

Hours later, at midnight Mass at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Leonardtown, Von Goetz returned with more troubling behavior. According to authorities, he poured whiskey into the holy water, threatened churchgoers, and attempted to strike several parishioners with a liquor bottle.

The congregation at St. Francis Xavier did not back down. Parishioners managed to detain Von Goetz until law enforcement arrived, putting an end to his disturbing antics.

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Von Goetz was taken to a hospital for evaluation before being formally charged on Thursday. His charges include second-degree assault, defacing religious property, disorderly conduct, and a religious crime against a group.

Von Goetz’s arrest is a stark reminder that vigilance is necessary even in sacred spaces, as moments meant to inspire peace and goodwill can still be interrupted by acts of aggression.

Holy Angels Catholic Church in Avenue shared a message of resilience with its community, reminding parishioners to remain steadfast in faith despite the unsettling events.

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