Archbishop Timothy Broglio, head of the U.S. bishops' military ministry, told BBC News that it could be morally acceptable for U.S. service members to refuse orders that violate their conscience, though doing so may place them in difficult positions. His comments come amid President Donald Trump's public discussions about deploying troops domestically and even seizing Greenland. Broglio warned that international law and personal moral judgment should guide decisions about the use of force and criticized the idea of occupying Greenland. The remarks add to growing concern from U.S. church leaders about recent White House policies and rhetoric.
Archbishop Says U.S. Troops Could Be Morally Justified in Refusing Questionable Orders
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents stand guard outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building during a demonstration against increased immigration enforcement, days after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., January 10, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (Reuters) - Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who oversees the Catholic Church's ministry to members of the U.S. military and leads the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said it could be "morally acceptable" for service members to disobey orders that conflict with their conscience.
Speaking to BBC News, Broglio said he was worried that some service personnel might be placed in situations where they are asked to carry out actions they would consider "morally questionable." He added that while refusing such an order could be justified, it might also put the individual in an "untenable situation." He did not offer specific examples of what would qualify as a morally questionable order.
"It would be morally acceptable to disobey that order but that's perhaps putting that individual in an untenable situation and that's my concern," Broglio said.
Broglio's remarks come as President Donald Trump has publicly discussed options that include deploying active-duty troops to U.S. cities and has raised the possibility of taking control of Greenland, a territory administered by Denmark, a NATO ally.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Earlier this month, Trump told The New York Times he felt constrained only by his "own morality," a statement that Broglio said was troubling. The archbishop emphasized that international law and personal moral judgment should be aligned when considering military action.
On the question of Greenland, Broglio described an armed seizure as unreasonable. "It'd be one thing if the people of Greenland wanted to, wanted to be annexed, that would be one situation," he said. "But taking it by force when we already have treaties there that allow for a military installation in Greenland? It doesn't seem necessary."
Broglio is the latest Catholic leader to voice concern about policies and rhetoric from the White House. Earlier this week, three fellow archbishops criticized the direction of U.S. foreign policy, and other church leaders have pushed back on the administration's immigration agenda.
Last year, six Democratic members of Congress released a video reminding service members of their duty to refuse unlawful orders — a move that drew rebukes from the Trump administration and prompted a Pentagon decision affecting the retired rank of Senator Mark Kelly, a former Navy officer.
(Reporting by Jasper Ward in Washington; editing by Scott Malone and Christian Schmollinger)
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