Religion and the Military

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who leads the Archdiocese for the Military Services USA, told CBS’s Face the Nation that the U.S. war with Iran is likely not justified under Catholic Just War theory because it is preemptive—“compensating for a threat before the threat is realized”—and that it is “hard to cast this war… as something that would be sponsored by the Lord.” He urged negotiations and an “off‑ramp” in line with Pope Leo XIV, called Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Christian framing of the conflict problematic, warned of growing moral injury among chaplains and service members, and noted that military rules do not permit conscientious objection to a specific war, limiting lower‑ranking troops’ ability to resist orders.