Catholics in US Army Must Not Participate in Firing Squad, Prominent Archbishop Says
Broglio said livestreaming the execution would harm the dignity of the human person and urged Catholic troops to seek exemption from the firing squad.
- On Oct 12, 2026, Archbishop Timothy Broglio issued a statement condemning the planned livestreamed execution of Nidal Hasan, calling it a "public spectacle of barbarically killing our adversaries."
- President Donald Trump recently approved the firing squad execution of Hasan, who killed 13 people and injured 32 others at Fort Hood in 2009; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed on Oct 8 the Dec 3 event will be public.
- Recalling he presided at the funeral of Michael Grant Cahill, Broglio obliged Catholic soldiers on the firing squad to request exemption, stating the planned execution "disregarded the dignity of the human person."
- Although the execution is scheduled for Dec 3, legal analysts suggest potential appeals could delay the process; the last public execution in the USA occurred in Missouri in 1937 according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
- Urging reconsideration, Broglio called on "all men and women of good will to ask that this decision be reconsidered," questioning whether such a public spectacle could cause moral injury to the firing squad.
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19 Articles
ARCHBISHOP Timothy Broglio, who oversees the Catholic Church's pastoral care for Catholics in the US armed forces, has condemned the proposal to broadcast Nidal Hasan's execution by firing squad live.
Catholics in US Army must not participate in firing squad, prominent archbishop says
By Phil Stewart and Joshua McElwee WASHINGTON, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Catholics serving in the US Army should not participate in the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan that the Pentagon is planning to livestream in December, a prominen...
Catholic Review
The Catholic SunMilitary archbishop denounces 'public spectacle' of Hasan execution, obliges Catholic recusal
Just hours after his audience with Pope Leo XIV, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services issued a strong and lengthy statement Oct. 12 against the planned livestreamed execution by firing squad of Ford Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan, calling it a "public spectacle of barbarically killing our adversaries."
Archbishop Broglio denounces ‘public spectacle’ of Hasan execution, obliges Catholic recusal
"I oblige any Catholics assigned to the firing squad to request to be excused from this action contrary to the teaching of the Church," Archbishop Broglio said. The post Archbishop Broglio denounces ‘public spectacle’ of Hasan execution, obliges Catholic recusal first appeared on OSV News.
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