Military Archbishop Urges Catholic Soldiers to Refuse Firing Squad Duty in Hasan Execution

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who oversees Catholic pastoral services for the U.S. military, has urged Catholic soldiers to request exemption from participating in the planned firing squad execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist convicted of the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting. The Pentagon's unprecedented plan to broadcast the execution, scheduled for December 3, has drawn significant criticism.

Hasan, who killed 13 people and wounded 32 others in the attack, is slated to be executed by firing squad at Fort Hood. This would mark the first U.S. military execution by firing squad since 1945 and the first by any method since 1961. Broglio questioned the purpose of publicly broadcasting the execution, asking if the U.S. government intended "to imitate the terrorists of this world and make a public spectacle of barbarically killing our adversaries."

Broglio stated, "I oblige any Catholics assigned to the firing squad to request to be excused from this action contrary to the teaching of the Church." Army regulations permit soldiers to seek religious exemptions.

He further commented on the military's reputation, questioning the value of "throwing them in the same boat with terrorists by broadcasting the image of the execution of a man in a wheelchair to the whole world." The U.S. government has never publicly broadcast an execution.

Other Catholic leaders have also voiced strong opposition. Archbishop Paul Coakley, head of the U.S. bishops conference, expressed shock and sorrow, calling the plan a "barbaric promotion of a culture of death." Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, described the proposed broadcast as "truly incomprehensible" and unacceptable to "turn death into a spectacle."

Pope Francis, whose doctrine revision declared the death penalty inadmissible, was reiterated by Pope Leo XIV, stating that it is an attack on human dignity and that justice can be met without capital punishment. Leo emphasized that "effective systems of detention have been developed that protect citizens while at the same time do not completely deprive those who are guilty of the possibility of redemption."

The plan has also faced scrutiny from political figures. President Donald Trump stated he had not yet decided on the livestream plan, despite reportedly expressing private doubts. Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic, expressed skepticism about the execution being livestreamed and indicated he would not watch it.

Several lawmakers have also spoken out against the proposal. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., commented that "Public executions are what oppressive dictatorships like Iran and Afghanistan do. It should not be happening in America."