US military archbishop condemns Pentagon plan to livestream execution

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who oversees the spiritual care of Catholics serving in the US military, has condemned a Pentagon proposal to livestream the firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan later this year, according to a report.

In a statement issued Monday, Broglio said that any Catholic soldier assigned to the army firing squad carrying out the execution should ask to be excused from that duty. He described participation as contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Broglio's statement places him among other Catholic leaders who have spoken out against both the death penalty in general and the specific plan to livestream the execution. The report did not specify further details about the planned execution's timing or the Pentagon's rationale for livestreaming it.

The Pentagon has not issued a public response addressing the archbishop's comments, according to the available report.