Emma Dunn Counsellor (she/her)

BREAKING: The Catholic Archbishop of the U.S. military enrages MAGA by announcing that Catholic soldiers must not take part in the public execution of Nidal Hasan. Pete Hegseth is about to blow a gasket... “In addition to supporting and subscribing to the statement by my brothers the Bishops of Texas, it is my duty to express my disapproval of what is proposed regarding the execution of the terrorist Hasan in the Archdiocese entrusted to my spiritual care to be done by those for whose salvation I have been constituted as the Archbishop for the Military Services, USA," stated Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who is in charge of Catholic pastoral services for the U.S. military. He was referring to a statement put out by the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops condemning Hegseth's plan to livestream Hasan's execution because it would "make a spectacle of death" and fail to achieve "true justice." Broglio was no doubt drawing attention to the Texas bishops' statement specifically because Hasan committed his mass shooting at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. While we have absolutely zero sympathy for Hasan, we also adamantly oppose MAGA's efforts to turn us into an even more bloodthirsty nation where public killings are broadcast for the entertainment of the masses. We are the United States of America, not ancient Rome. “First of all, I renew my expression of heartfelt sympathy to the families and friends of those who died in the attack at Fort Hood," Broglio continued. "It was an attack that disregarded the dignity of the human person. I had the sad duty of presiding and preaching at the funeral of Michael Grant Cahill, the only civilian killed in that attack." “Secondly, I repeat the opposition of the Catholic Church to capital punishment.  The Catechism was already clear and Pope Francis made it even clearer.  The dignity of the human person is again at stake." “Thirdly, do we really want to imitate the terrorists of this world and make a public spectacle of barbarically killing our adversaries?  The crime committed by Nidal Malik Hasan was heinous, but does exposing the public to his execution serve any purpose?  Has the potential moral injury, which the members of the firing squad might experience, been considered?  Will the exposure of a live-stream to the young and impressionable during the 250th anniversary year of our independence be able to be repaired?"  "The US military generally enjoys a good reputation in the world," he continued. "Is there really a value to throwing them in the same boat with terrorists by broadcasting the image of the execution of a man in a wheel chair to the whole world? Does this decision reflect the dignity of the human person?" “I call upon all men and women of good will to ask that this decision be reconsidered and, at the very least, do what is possible to keep the exposure to the live-streaming of the proposed execution from the vision of the young and impressionable," he went on.  "As I would in the case of a procured abortion, I oblige any Catholics assigned to the firing squad to request to be excused from this action contrary to the teaching of the Church," concluded Broglio. Regardless of one's thinking about the Catholic Church's teachings on other issues, we wholeheartedly agree with their staunch opposition to the death penalty and particularly public executions. Hegseth and Trump want to normalize this kind of brutality — likely setting the stage for even more heinous displays of fascist violence — and at the same time they know that it's red meat for their mindless, jabbering base who will delight in watching a Muslim be killed on television. The moral weight of history is on our side. We must stand up and stop this. Please ❤️ and share if you oppose public executions!