Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The statement below, which I fully support, is issued by the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops (TCCB) in conjunction with the Archdiocese for the Military Service, USA.
I ask that you pray especially for the victims of this terrible violence: those who died, including an unborn child, and those who still carry the wounds and the trauma of this tragic event.
Let us pray also for the perpetrator of this violence, for his soul and for his redemption. The Lord himself has commanded us to love our enemies and pray for those who mistreat others. (Cf. Lk 6:27-28)
Bishop Gregory Kelly
Archbishop Timothy Broglio joins Texas bishops in condemning planned execution and its public broadcast at Fort Hood
Bishops call for an end to the death penalty and warn of further trauma to victims’ families, survivors and military personnel
AUSTIN — Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA joins the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops (TCCB) in expressing opposition to the death penalty and in condemning the planned execution on Dec. 3, 2026, of Nidal Malik Hasan by firing squad at Fort Hood, along with the decision to livestream the execution to the public.
On Nov. 5, 2009, Hasan committed horrific murders at Fort Hood that unjustly claimed 14 lives, including an unborn child. We mourn with and pray for the families of those killed: Michael Grant Cahill, Maj. Libardo Eduardo Caraveo, Staff Sgt. Justin M. DeCrow, Capt. John P. Gaffaney, Spc. Frederick Z. Greene, Spc. Jason Dean Hunt, Sgt. Amy Krueger, Pfc. Aaron T. Nemelka, Pfc. Michael S. Pearson, Capt. Russell Seager, Pvt. Francheska Velez and her unborn child, Lt. Col. Juanita Warman, and Pfc. Kham S. Xiong. We also remember the 32 who were wounded and all those whose lives were forever changed by this tragedy.
“True justice cannot be achieved through further violence or vengeance, and a public broadcast of this execution would make a spectacle of death,” explained Bishop Daniel E. Garcia of Austin, whose diocese includes Fort Hood.
“The tragedy at Fort Hood has traumatized the loved ones of those killed, the survivors, and the entire military community,” Bishop Garcia said. “Carrying out this execution at Fort Hood, especially as a public broadcast, will only exacerbate that trauma. We ask the faithful to pray for the service members called upon to participate in the execution, and those on the military base, including children, who may witness or otherwise be exposed to the execution.”
About the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops
The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops is the association of the Roman Catholic bishops of Texas. The TCCB represents the 23 active bishops of the 15 dioceses and the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. These bishops include: Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, apostolic administrator of Amarillo; Bishop Daniel E. Garcia of Austin; Bishop David L. Toups of Beaumont; Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Flores; Bishop Steven J. Lopes of the Chair of St. Peter Ordinariate; Bishop Mario A. Avilés, C.O. of Corpus Christi; Bishop Edward J. Burns of Dallas; Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso; Bishop Michael F. Olson of Fort Worth; Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez of Galveston-Houston; Bishop John J. Gomez of Laredo; Bishop Robert M. Coerver of Lubbock; Bishop Michael J. Sis of San Angelo; Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, M.Sp.S. of San Antonio; Bishop J. Gregory Kelly of Tyler; Bishop Brendan J. Cahill of Victoria; Bishop Anthony C. Celino, auxiliary bishop of El Paso; Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, C.R.S., auxiliary bishop of Galveston-Houston; Bishop José A. Cepeda, auxiliary bishop of San Antonio; Bishop Gary W. Janak, auxiliary bishop of San Antonio; Bishop Curtis J. Guillory, S.V.D., bishop emeritus of Beaumont; Bishop William M. Mulvey, bishop emeritus of Corpus Christi; and Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer, O.M.I., bishop emeritus of San Angelo. Through the TCCB, the bishops provide a moral and social public policy voice, accredit the state’s Catholic schools, and maintain archives that reflect the work and the history of the Catholic Church in Texas.
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Media Contact:
Leslie Rodriguez
Director of Communications
news@txcatholic.org
Mailing: PO Box 13285, Austin, TX 78723
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