U.S. Catholic Military Archbishop Says Troops May Refuse Orders Conflicting with Conscience
U.S. Catholic Military Archbishop Says Troops May Refuse Orders Conflicting with Conscience
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The Catholic Archbishop responsible for pastoral care of U.S. military personnel, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, has said that it can be “morally acceptable” for American soldiers to refuse to obey military orders that seriously conflict with their moral conscience, including deeply held religious beliefs. His remarks were made in a recent interview with the BBC and reported widely by international media.
Broglio, who leads the Archdiocese for the Military Services — the structure that serves Catholic members of the U.S. armed forces — said he is concerned that service members could be placed in situations where they are ordered to carry out actions they find morally questionable. He emphasised that while disobeying such orders would be difficult and could have consequences under military law, “within the realm of their own conscience, it would be morally acceptable to disobey that order.”
Under U.S. military law, service members are legally required to disobey clearly unlawful orders, but Broglio’s comments framed the issue in ethical and religious terms rather than strictly legal ones. He highlighted the role of conscience as central to moral decision-making, noting that loyalty in the military is ultimately to the U.S. Constitution and ethical principles, not blind obedience to any command.
Broglio’s statements come amid broader debates in U.S. public life about the use of military force abroad and the moral responsibilities of military personnel. He reiterated that the Church does not advocate widespread disobedience, but supports the individual responsibility of service members to act according to informed conscience when faced with orders they believe to be unjust.
