Military's archbishop criticizes plan to livestream execution: "Do we really want to imitate the terrorists?"
Updated on: October 12, 2026 / 5:00 PM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio criticized the plan to livestream the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan.
- Broglio cited the Catholic Church's opposition to the death penalty and warned of 'moral injury' to service members.
- He questioned the need to make a public spectacle of the execution and if it aligns with the military's reputation or human dignity.
- Pope Leo XIV's stance against the death penalty as 'inadmissible' was also noted.
- Hegseth stated the execution would be public to show 'serious consequences'.
- Nidal Hasan was sentenced to death in 2013 for killing 13 people at Fort Hood.
- This could be the U.S. military's first execution since 1961 and first firing squad since 1945.
- Publicly viewable executions are rare in modern U.S. history.
- Congressional Republicans, including Senators Lisa Murkowski and Kevin Cramer, and House Speaker Mike Johnson, have raised concerns about the plan.
- Concerns include the potential for the video to become a 'recruiting tool for future terrorists'.