Archbishop urges Catholic soldiers not to join firing squad

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 19:31 · Archive

The archbishop overseeing Catholic services in the U.S. military says Catholic soldiers should be excused from participating in the firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan, scheduled for December 3.

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who oversees Catholic pastoral services for the U.S. military, has condemned the proposed livestream of the firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan and called on Catholic soldiers assigned to the firing squad to request exemption from the duty. Broglio issued his statement on Monday, describing the execution detail as contrary to the teachings of the church. Other Catholic leaders have also spoken out against the death penalty and livestream plans.

Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, was convicted of killing 13 people in 2009 at Fort Hood in Texas. He is scheduled to be executed by firing squad on 3 December. Broglio presided over the funeral of Michael Grant Cahill, the only civilian killed in the attack.

In his statement, Broglio questioned the purpose of the livestream. 'The crime committed by Hasan was heinous, but does exposing the public to his execution serve any purpose?' he asked. He also raised concerns about the military's international reputation, asking whether broadcasting the execution 'throwing them in the same boat with terrorists' was valuable to the institution.

How it is being reported

• Archbishop of the U.S. military says Catholic soldiers should not serve on firing squadThe archbishop who oversees Catholic pastoral services for the U.S. military is condemning the proposed livestream of Nidal Hasan's firing squad execution.Clickorlando · 12 Oct, 19:04
• Archbishop of the U.S. military says Catholic soldiers should not serve on firing squadThe archbishop who oversees Catholic pastoral services for the U.S. military is condemning the proposed livestream of Nidal Hasan's firing squad execution.News4Jax · 12 Oct, 19:04

In this story: Archbishop Timothy Broglio · Nidal Hasan · Fort Hood · Texas · Michael Grant Cahill · U.S. Army · Roman Catholic Church

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