Archbishop Coakley condemns planned livestream of execution as 'culture of death'

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, criticized the Pentagon's plan to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, a former Army major. Coakley called the proposal a barbaric promotion of a culture of death and urged officials to reconsider the decision.

The Pentagon announced that the execution of Hasan, who was convicted for the 2009 Fort Hood massacre, will be conducted by a firing squad and made available for public viewing. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously stated that the military would ensure people are able to watch the event.

In a statement, Coakley said the public broadcast would damage the moral fabric of the nation and act as a blight on the conscience of the people. He noted that while Hasan's actions cannot be condoned, the decision contradicts the biblical exhortation to not repay evil for evil.