Archbishop serving US military urges Catholics be excused from proposed firing squad execution: news

Archbishop Serving US Military Urges Catholics to Seek Exemption from Firing Squad Execution

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, the head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, has publicly called on Catholic service members to request an exemption if selected to participate in an upcoming military firing squad execution.

The directive follows recent announcements regarding the scheduled capital punishment of former Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan, who was convicted of killing 13 people during the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting. Pentagon officials recently outlined plans to carry out the execution by firing squad and broadcast or livestream the proceedings publicly, sparking widespread ethical, religious, and legal debate.

Catholic Church Teachings and Moral Obligations

In his public statement, Archbishop Broglio emphasized that participating in capital punishment runs contrary to contemporary Catholic Church doctrine. The Catechism of the Catholic Church holds that the death penalty is inadmissible because it attacks the inviolability and dignity of the person.

Addressing military personnel directly, Archbishop Broglio instructed any Catholic troops assigned to the execution detail to formally exercise their right to seek a conscientious or religious exemption under military accommodation policies. He noted that taking part in such an act creates an unacceptable moral conflict with their faith.

Criticism of Public Spectacle and Livestreaming Plans

Beyond the method of execution, Archbishop Broglio strongly condemned proposals to publicly broadcast or livestream the event. He warned that turning state-sanctioned executions into public spectacles diminishes human dignity and tarnishes the moral reputation of the United States Armed Forces abroad.

Military regulations permit service members to request accommodations for sincerely held religious beliefs. As the scheduled execution date approaches, the archbishop’s appeal places renewed scrutiny on military capital punishment procedures, freedom of conscience, and religious liberty protections within the armed forces.