Archbishop Timothy oglio, head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, has called on Catholic soldiers to refuse to participate in the execution squad for Nidal Hasan, which the Pentagon reportedly plans to oadcast live. He urged any Catholic assigned to the duty to request an exemption, stating that participation would conflict with the Church's teachings.
Reuters reported on Tuesday morning, October 13, that Archbishop oglio voiced his strong opposition to the plan. As the spiritual leader for Catholics in the US military, he questioned whether the United States wants to "imitate the world's terrorists and make utal killing a public spectacle."
This stance was articulated shortly after oglio's meeting with Pope Francis in Rome on Monday. The Catholic Church, under Pope Francis, has adopted a firm position against the death penalty in all circumstances, viewing it as an "attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person."
On Saturday, the Pope condemned capital punishment, though without directly referencing the Nidal Hasan case. He has previously had disagreements with the Trump administration and the Pentagon on issues such as a potential war with Iran.
Nidal Hasan, a former US Army major and psychiatrist, was convicted of killing 13 people and injuring more than 30 others in a 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas. He was sentenced to death, though no execution date has been set. The Pentagon's proposal to oadcast the execution has sparked significant legal and ethical debate in the United States.
Archbishop oglio's call presents a direct challenge to military authorities and highlights the tension between religious values and military duty on the sensitive issue of capital punishment. It places Catholic service members who may be involved in a difficult moral position.
Source: Reuters
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