Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who oversees spiritual care for Catholics in the U.S. military, issued a statement on Monday condemning the Pentagon’s intention to livestream the upcoming execution of Nidal Hasan. Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist, was convicted for the 2009 shooting at Fort Hood that resulted in the deaths of 13 people.

Broglio’s primary concern centers on the optics of the execution. He argued that broadcasting the event could lead the United States to “imitate the terrorists,” suggesting that such a public display is inappropriate. Beyond the livestream, Broglio addressed the role of military personnel in the process. He explicitly stated that any Catholic soldier assigned to the firing squad should request to be excused from the duty, citing the church’s broader stance against the death penalty.

While both reports agree on the Archbishop’s opposition to the livestream and his warning regarding terrorist imitation, the outlets differ in their focus. The Hill focuses primarily on the Archbishop’s warning about the livestream itself. In contrast, The Guardian provides additional context regarding the Archbishop’s instructions to Catholic soldiers regarding their participation in the firing squad, framing his comments as part of a wider religious opposition to capital punishment.