US Archbishop Asks Whether Execution Broadcast Puts Military 'In the Same Boat With Terrorists'

An execution chamber at a Florida prison, illustrating the debate over military executions and whether broadcasting them could put the US military on a par with terrorists (Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Dept. of Corrections, Florida Department of Corrections/Doug Smith)

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio has warned that livestreaming the planned firing-squad execution of Fort Hood gunman Nidal Malik Hasan could place the US military 'in the same boat with terrorists', as the Pentagon pushes ahead with a proposal to broadcast the killing worldwide.

Broglio, who oversees Catholic pastoral care for US military personnel, also urged Catholic service members assigned to the firing squad to request to be excused on religious grounds.