Following controversy over live broadcast, U.S. military archbishop opposes execution of Nidal Hasan

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who heads the U.S. Archdiocese for Military Services, called on Catholic soldiers not to participate in the firing squad that will execute Nidal Hasan, the perpetrator of the Fort Hood massacre in 2009. Broglio also rejected the live broadcast planned by the Pentagon.

Archbishop Broglio has led the military archdiocese since 2008 and recently met with Pope Leo XIV. In a statement, he criticized the execution of Hasan, who on Nov. 5, 2009, killed 13 people — 12 soldiers and one civilian — and wounded more than 30. He was sentenced to death in 2013.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth recently confirmed that the execution will take place on Dec. 3 and will be streamed live. According to CBS News, it would be the first military execution since 1961.

The plan to broadcast the execution live sparked controversy among Democrats and Republicans. Among the critics was Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who clarified that he supports Hasan's death sentence but wrote on X that the broadcast is "beyond disgusting." Vice President JD Vance, a convert to Catholicism, said he would not watch it. For his part, President Donald Trump has not commented publicly on the case.

In this context, Broglio harshly criticized the War Department's decision.

"Do we really want to imitate the terrorists of this world and make a public spectacle of barbarically killing our adversaries? The crime committed by Nidal Malik Hasan was heinous, but does exposing the public to his execution serve any purpose? Has the potential moral injury, which the members of the firing squad might experience, been considered?" said Broglio.

"I call upon all men and women of good will to ask that this decision be reconsidered and, at the very least, do what is possible to keep the exposure to the live-streaming of the proposed execution from the vision of the young and impressionable. As I would in the case of a procured abortion, I oblige any Catholics assigned to the firing squad to request to be excused from this action contrary to the teaching of the Church," he added.