US Archbishop Says Catholics in Army Should Not Join Firing Squad

A senior US Catholic archbishop said Catholic members of the military should not take part in a firing squad execution, according to Al Jazeera.

Archbishop Timothy Broglio said a US plan to livestream the execution of the Fort Hood attacker is contrary to church teachings, raising concerns on moral and religious grounds about both the method of execution and the decision to broadcast it.

Broglio serves as the archbishop for the US military, giving him a direct role in addressing moral and religious questions facing Catholic service members, including those who might be called upon to participate in carrying out a death sentence.

The report did not provide further detail on the specific timeline for the planned execution or livestream, nor did it include a response from military or government officials regarding the archbishop's comments.

The Catholic church has long expressed opposition to the death penalty in many contexts, and Broglio's remarks reflect that broader institutional stance as it applies specifically to Catholic soldiers who might otherwise be assigned to a firing squad.