Catholics in US Army must not participate in firing squad, prominent archbishop says
WASHINGTON, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Catholics serving in the US Army should not participate in the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan that the Pentagon is planning to livestream in December, a prominent US archbishop said on Monday.
Catholics serving in the US Army should refrain from taking part in the planned live-streaming of Nidal Hasan's execution via firing squad, according to a prominent US archbishop. Archbishop Timothy Broglio expressed concerns over the unprecedented televised execution of Hasan, who carried out a deadly shooting at Fort Hood, Texas in 2009.
The Ohio-born archbishop, who officiated at the funeral of one of Hasan's victims, argued that the US should not emulate terrorists by making a public spectacle of killing its adversaries. He urged any Catholics assigned to the firing squad to request an exemption based on religious teachings. The US Army permits such religious accommodations, but the Army has yet to decide on how it will select participants.
The Pentagon's decision to broadcast the execution has sparked backlash, with Republicans in Congress, religious leaders, and international observers opposing the move. The US has never broadcast a government execution, and the military hasn't conducted a firing squad execution since 1945. Hasan, now 56, requires wheelchair assistance after being shot by police during his arrest.
Broglio questioned the potential impact of a livestreamed execution on young viewers, suggesting that the US military's reputation could be tarnished if the event were made public. His remarks came after a meeting with Pope Leo in Rome, who has previously criticized the death penalty.
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