The archbishop of the U.S. military services says US troops could refuse Greenland orders
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2026 5:09 pm
Speaking to the BBC on Jan. 18. Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services said he “cannot see any circumstances” in which an American military operation to take control of Greenland or another ally’s territory could fulfill the criteria for a just war.
The archbishop also said administration rhetoric on Greenland “tarnishes the image of the United States.”
Broglio previous served in the Holy See’s Secretariat of State as a Vatican diplomat, including as Apostolic Nuncio to the Dominican Republic and Apostolic Delegate to Puerto Rico.
The archbishop was also previously elected as president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; his term as head of the USCCB ended in November of last year.
Asked whether he is concerned about Catholics serving in the military who might be asked to participate in a military operation to take control of Greenland, Broglio responded, “I am obviously worried, because they could be put in a situation where they’re being ordered to do something which is morally questionable.” “And it would be very difficult for a soldier or a Marine or a sailor by himself to disobey an order such as that,” he continued. “But strictly speaking, he or she, within the realm of their own conscience, 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.”
Asked if he was “laying out red lines” for the Trump administration, the archbishop said he does not know whether “the powers that be” are open to listening to admonitions from Catholic leaders, but said he believes it is his duty to speak up. Broglio’s comments come amid rising international tensions, as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to repeat demands for “complete and total control of Greenland.”
https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/brogli ... -greenland
The archbishop also said administration rhetoric on Greenland “tarnishes the image of the United States.”
Broglio previous served in the Holy See’s Secretariat of State as a Vatican diplomat, including as Apostolic Nuncio to the Dominican Republic and Apostolic Delegate to Puerto Rico.
The archbishop was also previously elected as president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; his term as head of the USCCB ended in November of last year.
Asked whether he is concerned about Catholics serving in the military who might be asked to participate in a military operation to take control of Greenland, Broglio responded, “I am obviously worried, because they could be put in a situation where they’re being ordered to do something which is morally questionable.” “And it would be very difficult for a soldier or a Marine or a sailor by himself to disobey an order such as that,” he continued. “But strictly speaking, he or she, within the realm of their own conscience, 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.”
Asked if he was “laying out red lines” for the Trump administration, the archbishop said he does not know whether “the powers that be” are open to listening to admonitions from Catholic leaders, but said he believes it is his duty to speak up. Broglio’s comments come amid rising international tensions, as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to repeat demands for “complete and total control of Greenland.”
https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/brogli ... -greenland