A soldier’s job is to follow orders, but what should they do when those orders run contrary to their conscience?
Disobey.
At least, that’s what the United States’ military’s top Catholic official said in a recent interview, referencing the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and President Trump’s rhetoric regarding taking Greenland by force.
The comments mark the latest escalation in a growing rift between senior Catholic leaders and the Trump Administration, which Church officials have criticized with increasing frequency over the past year.
So, do soldiers actually have a duty to violate illegal orders? And where does obedience end and moral responsibility begin?
Should Soldiers Disobey Orders?
“It would be very difficult for a soldier or a Marine or a sailor to by himself disobey an order,” explained the U.S. Military Archbishop Timothy Broglio. “But strictly speaking, he or she would be, within the realm of their own conscience, it would be morally acceptable to disobey that order,” he continued.
The remarks were in reference to the recent territorial dispute over Greenland.
“Greenland is a territory of Denmark,” Broglio added in the January 18 interview with BBC. “Denmark is an ally. It’s part of NATO. It does not seem really reasonable that the United States would attack and occupy a friendly nation.”
Broglio has headed the Archdiocese for the Military Services since 2008, and oversees Catholic military chaplains at military bases, Veterans Affairs facilities, and on non-combat diplomacy missions abroad.
In his remarks, the prelate also said he “cannot see any circumstance” where America attacking Greenland unprovoked would “fulfill the criteria of a just law.” He added, “it doesn’t seem acceptable to invade a friendly nation.”
Broglio’s rhetoric makes clear he sees a potential invasion of Greenland not as a political issue, but also one of moral legitimacy.
Catholics Speak Out
Broglio isn’t the only high-ranking Catholic official speaking out against the Trump Administration's involvement in foreign affairs in recent weeks.
“A diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus among all parties is being replaced by a diplomacy based on force, by either individuals or groups of allies,” said Pope Leo in a recent address at the Vatican. And though he didn’t mention President Trump by name, many drew the connection anyway. “War is back in vogue and a zeal for war is spreading,” Leo added.
Similarly, the United States’ three highest-ranking Catholic officials – Cardinals Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago; Robert McElroy, archbishop of D.C.; and Joseph Tobin, archbishop of Newark – released a statement condemning recent saber-rattling in U.S. foreign policy. They wrote:
“The events in Venezuela, Ukraine and Greenland have raised basic questions about the use of military force and the meaning of peace. Our country’s moral role in confronting evil around the world, sustaining the right to life and human dignity, and supporting religious liberty are all under examination.”
A Growing Rift
The rebukes from religious leaders underscore a widening schism between the Catholic Church’s leadership and President Trump. Once cautious in its criticism, the Church’s upper hierarchy now appears increasingly willing to openly challenge an administration they believe is abandoning long-standing moral frameworks governing war and peace.
Citing incursions into foreign territories, aggressive immigration enforcement, and a renewed embrace of military force, senior Catholic figures seem increasingly willing to publicly challenge an administration they view as morally drifting astray.
And yet, for soldiers on the ground, the debate between duty and conscience isn’t theoretical – it’s literal. When orders collide with morality, the burden of that collision does not fall on policymakers, but on the individuals asked to carry them out.
What do you make of the Archbishop’s comments? Is it okay for soldiers to disobey orders they find immoral?
2 comments
-
Sir Lionheart
I suggest that if a soldier cannot follow orders that run contrary to their conscience, he/she should leave the armed forces. Can you imagine having someone under your command not knowing if you can rely upon them in the theatre of battle, putting other soldiers at risk? That would be very scary.
🦁❤️
Unfortunately, morality is now determined by the political administration. Never before in history has it been clearer that moral values are out of control, not the norm. If the military just adheres to the legality of orders, we should be glad.