EWTN News reports that Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, offered prayers for the victims and families of the victims of a June 15 fatal plane crash at the Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California. Eight people died in the accident, which is under investigation. The victims included members of the military, government civilians, and contractors. The tests were supporting the B-52 Radar Modernization Program, which seeks to improve the bombers’ capabilities of tracking moving surface and air targets.
This incident, while tragic, provides an opportunity to examine the broader context of the military-industrial complex and the role of the post-conciliar church in blessing and supporting it. The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, is a structure within the conciliar sect that provides chaplaincy services to the U.S. military, effectively sacralizing the actions of the state, including its military operations. The prayers offered by Broglio, while seemingly compassionate, do not address the moral implications of the military actions themselves, nor do they call for an examination of conscience regarding the use of military force.
The Silence on the Moral Law
The statement by Archbishop Broglio is notable for its silence on the moral law. He offers condolences and prayers for the victims and their families, but there is no mention of the moral principles that should guide the use of military force. The Catholic Church has always taught that war is only permissible under strict conditions, as outlined in the just war theory. These conditions include a just cause, legitimate authority, right intention, probability of success, proportionality, and last resort. There is no indication that Broglio or the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, have called for an examination of whether these conditions are being met in the ongoing military operations of the United States.
This silence is symptomatic of the broader apostasy of the post-conciliar church. The conciliar sect has largely abandoned the traditional teaching on the morality of war, instead adopting a stance of uncritical support for the actions of the state. This is in stark contrast to the teaching of the pre-conciliar Church, which always insisted on the primacy of the moral law and the need for states to conform their actions to the commandments of God.
The Reign of Christ the King
The encyclical Quas Primas of Pope Pius XI, issued in 1925, established the Feast of Christ the King to remind the world that Jesus Christ is the King of all nations and that all authority is derived from Him. Pius XI taught that “the Kingdom of our Redeemer encompasses all men” and that “men united in societies are no less subject to the authority of Christ than individuals.” He further stated that “the state is happy not by one means, and man by another; for the state is nothing else than a harmonious association of men.”
This teaching has been systematically ignored by the post-conciliar church. The conciliar sect has embraced the secularist agenda, separating the Church from the state and effectively denying the reign of Christ the King over civil society. This is evident in the statement by Broglio, which makes no reference to the need for the state to conform its actions to the moral law or to the commandments of Christ the King.
The Role of the Military-Industrial Complex
The B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber that has been in service with the United States Air Force since the 1950s. It is a key component of the U.S. nuclear triad and has been used in numerous military operations, including the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the War on Terror. The B-52 Radar Modernization Program, which was the focus of the test mission that ended in the crash, is part of the ongoing effort to maintain and upgrade the U.S. military’s strategic capabilities.
The Catholic Church has always taught that the arms race is a grave evil. Pope Pius XII, in his Christmas Message of 1955, stated that “the arms race is a grave evil, and it is a grave evil because it is a waste of resources that could be used to alleviate the suffering of the poor and the needy.” He further stated that “the arms race is a grave evil because it creates a climate of fear and mistrust among nations, and it makes it more difficult to achieve a just and lasting peace.”
The post-conciliar church has largely abandoned this teaching, instead adopting a stance of uncritical support for the military-industrial complex. This is evident in the statement by Broglio, which makes no reference to the moral implications of the arms race or the need for disarmament.
The Need for True Repentance
The Catholic Church has always taught that true repentance is necessary for the forgiveness of sins. This includes not only sorrow for one’s own sins but also a firm purpose of amendment and a willingness to make restitution for the harm caused by one’s sins. In the context of the military-industrial complex, true repentance would require a fundamental rethinking of the use of military force and a commitment to the principles of the just war theory.
The statement by Broglio, while offering prayers for the victims and their families, does not call for true repentance. There is no mention of the need for the state to examine its conscience regarding the use of military force, nor is there any call for the conversion of the military-industrial complex. This is in stark contrast to the teaching of the pre-conciliar Church, which always insisted on the need for true repentance and the conversion of society.
Conclusion
The tragic accident at Edwards Air Force Base is a reminder of the fragility of human life and the need for compassion for those who suffer. However, it is also an opportunity to reflect on the broader moral and spiritual issues raised by the military-industrial complex and the role of the post-conciliar church in supporting it. The statement by Archbishop Broglio, while seemingly compassionate, is notable for its silence on the moral law, the reign of Christ the King, and the need for true repentance. This silence is symptomatic of the broader apostasy of the post-conciliar church and its abandonment of the traditional teaching of the Catholic Church.
The faithful must not be deceived by the false compassion of the conciliar sect. They must hold fast to the unchanging teaching of the Catholic Church and work for the conversion of society and the establishment of the reign of Christ the King over all nations. As Pope Pius XI taught in Quas Primas, “if men were ever to recognize Christ’s royal authority over themselves, both privately and publicly, then unheard-of blessings would flow upon the whole society, such as due freedom, order, and tranquility, and concord and peace.”
Source:
Military archbishop offers prayers for victims of Edwards Air Force Base accident (ewtnnews.com)
Date: 18.06.2026