US archbishop urges Catholics to refuse firing squad duty for Hasan execution

Key facts

• Archbishop Timothy Broglio urged Catholic soldiers not to participate in Nidal Hasan's execution.
• The Pentagon plans to livestream the firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan.
• Nidal Hasan killed 13 people in a 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, Texas.
• US President Donald Trump approved Hasan's execution by firing squad.
• Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, stated he would not watch the livestream.

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who oversees the spiritual care of Catholics serving in the US military, has condemned the Pentagon's plans to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, scheduled for December 3. Broglio urged any Catholic soldiers assigned to the firing squad to request to be excused, stating such participation would contradict Catholic teachings. Hasan, an army psychiatrist, was convicted of killing 13 people in a 2009 shooting spree at Fort Hood, Texas. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced last week that the execution would be public and livestreamed, a plan that has drawn criticism from various quarters, including Republicans in Congress and religious leaders. Broglio questioned the purpose of making a public spectacle of the execution, particularly given Hasan's current wheelchair-bound state, and whether it would align the US military with terrorist tactics. President Donald Trump has approved Hasan's execution by firing squad, but is reportedly still considering the livestreaming aspect. Experts note that no government execution has been broadcast in the US, and the military has not used a firing squad since 1945.