Timothy Broglio, a prominent U.S. archbishop, has urged Catholic soldiers in the U.S. military not to participate in the firing squad for Nidal Hasan, whose execution the Pentagon reportedly plans to broadcast live.
Reuters reported early Tuesday, October 13, that Broglio, who oversees the spiritual needs of Catholic members of the U.S. military, had strongly opposed the plan.
According to the report, the Ohio-born archbishop questioned whether the United States wanted to “imitate the terrorists of the world and turn brutal killing into a public spectacle.”
“I would ask any Catholic designated to be part of the firing squad to seek an exemption from this action, because it contradicts the teachings of the Church,” Broglio said.
He expressed this position on Monday in Rome, shortly after meeting the Pope, the leader of the Catholic Church.
The Pope has previously disagreed with U.S. President Donald Trump and the Pentagon on issues including the war with Iran. On Saturday, without directly referring to Hasan’s case, he condemned the death penalty.
Nidal Hasan killed 13 people in a shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009.
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