Catholic Archbishop Opposes Firing Squad Participation in Hasan Execution
Archbishop Timothy Broglio urges Catholics in the military to avoid firing squad for Hasan’s execution, citing Church teachings.
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Archbishop Timothy Broglio, head of all pastoral services to Catholics serving in the U.S. military, has called on Catholics to avoid participating in the firing squad for the execution of Nidal Hasan, citing Church teachings against capital punishment. The controversy arose after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Pentagon will livestream Hasan’s execution, scheduled for December 3. Hasan was convicted and sentenced to death for the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, which killed 14 people and injured 33 others.
Catholic Opposition to Capital Punishment
In a statement, Broglio emphasized that Catholics serving on the firing squad would be violating Church teachings, particularly regarding the death penalty. He reiterated the Catholic Church’s longstanding opposition to capital punishment, noting that Pope Francis has reaffirmed the position of his predecessors, including Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, that the death penalty is “inadmissible” due to modern methods of imprisonment. Broglio also highlighted Pope Leo XIV’s continued affirmation of these teachings.
Broglio expressed deep sympathy for the families of the victims, including Michael Grant Cahill, the only civilian killed in the attack. He warned that livestreaming the execution could cause “moral injury,” especially for young and impressionable viewers. He urged Catholics in the military to excuse themselves from participating in the firing squad, stating that they should “request to be excused from this action contrary to the teaching of the Church.”
Church and National Concerns
Broglio’s statement follows a broader concern from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which also criticized the decision to livestream Hasan’s execution, arguing that it would “undermine the moral fabric of our nation and be a blight on the conscience of its people.” The Church’s stance reflects a growing emphasis on the dignity of the human person, a principle central to Catholic doctrine.
As the nation grapples with the ethical and moral implications of capital punishment, Broglio’s call for Catholics to avoid participation in the firing squad underscores the ongoing tension between legal justice and religious teachings. The debate over Hasan’s execution continues to spark discussions on the role of the Church in public affairs and the broader implications of capital punishment in the United States.
Source: Breitbart
