Pope declares death penalty inadmissible

Pope Leo XIV marked World Day Against the Death Penalty on Saturday by declaring capital punishment inadmissible. He quoted revised Catholic teaching that the death penalty attacks human dignity.

“The common good can be safeguarded and the requirements of justice can be met without recourse to capital punishment.”

Pentagon plans to livestream execution

The US Defense Department announced Thursday that the firing squad execution of Nidal Malik Hasan will be livestreamed. Hasan is scheduled to be executed at Fort Hood on December 3.

Hasan convicted of Fort Hood shooting

Nidal Malik Hasan was convicted of a two thousand nine shooting at Fort Hood military base. He killed thirteen people and wounded thirty two others in the attack.

Vatican secretary of state calls execution unacceptable

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said the planned public execution was unacceptable. He called it incomprehensible to turn death into a spectacle, even for someone guilty.

“It is certainly unacceptable to turn death into a spectacle; even if the person is guilty, of course, there are other methods.”

US bishops condemn livestream as barbaric

Archbishop Paul Coakley, head of the US bishops conference, expressed shock at the Pentagon's plans. He called the decision a barbaric promotion of a culture of death that must be reconsidered.

“In no way can Hasan's actions be condoned but this decision is a barbaric promotion of a culture of death and must be reconsidered.”

Trump to decide on livestream plan

US President Donald Trump said Saturday he would make the ultimate decision on whether the execution would be livestreamed. No final determination has been announced.