Timothy Broglio condemns livestream of Nidal Hasan firing squad execution

Archbishop Timothy Broglio denounced broadcast plans for condemned inmate Nidal Hasan at Fort Hood in Texas. His statement opposes showing the planned military lethal event to the global public. Broglio oversees pastoral services to Catholics in the military.

Broglio released a statement on Monday. Any Catholic soldier assigned to the squad should ask for an excuse. He described the duty as contrary to church teachings.

He joins other Catholic leaders. They speak against the death penalty and broadcast plans. The execution date is Dec. 3.

Hasan is an Army psychiatrist. A court convicted him of killing 13 people in a 2009 attack. Michael Grant Cahill died in that Fort Hood incident.

Broglio presided over the funeral for Cahill. Cahill was the only civilian killed there.

“The crime committed by Hasan was heinous, but does exposing the public to his execution serve any purpose?” Broglio asked. “The US military generally enjoys a good reputation in the world. Is there really a value to 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?”

Military archbishops direct religious care for service members stationed worldwide. Military execution orders set procedures for capital sentences under armed forces law.

Broglio spoke out before the planned Texas date.