Military archbishop opposes livestream of Hasan execution

Archbishop raises religious and moral objections

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, who leads the Catholic archdiocese serving the U.S. military, has criticized the plan to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan in December. Broglio said Catholic service members assigned to the firing squad should ask to be excused.

Broglio tied his objection to the Catholic Church’s opposition to capital punishment. He also warned that taking part could cause moral injury to military personnel and argued that broadcasting the execution would undermine respect for human dignity and the military’s reputation.

Pope Leo XIV separately wrote on social media that the death penalty is inadmissible because it violates the dignity of the person. His post did not specifically mention Hasan or the military’s plan.

Pentagon plan draws congressional criticism

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Hasan’s execution would be publicly viewable. Hegseth said the public should understand that acts such as Hasan’s carry serious consequences. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to Broglio’s statement.

A military court convicted Hasan in 2013 and sentenced him to death for killing 13 people and injuring more than 30 others at Fort Hood, Texas. Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist, acknowledged responsibility during his trial. His case could become the military’s first execution of an American since 1961 and its first execution by firing squad since 1945.

Members of both parties in Congress have criticized the livestream plan. Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Kevin Cramer of North Dakota objected to making the execution a public event. House Speaker Mike Johnson said some House Republicans also have concerns and that he planned to raise them with the White House, including the risk that footage could be used to recruit future attackers.