Archbishop Broglio Issues Statement
on U.S. Marine Corps Plane Crash

Calls on faithful to pray for the repose of those who died and the consolation of their families                                    

The Archdiocese for the Military Services has released the followed the statement:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, USA, issued the following statement tonight on the tragic U.S. Marine Corps plane crash in Mississippi:

“I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the KC-130 Hercules plane crash in Mississippi, killing all 15 Marines and one Sailor aboard. I express my heartfelt condolences to the families who lost loved ones in this terrible accident. My heart also goes out to their colleagues and others who worked with them.  They also suffer the loss and ask questions. I ask the faithful to join me in prayer for the repose of those who died and the consolation of their families. Tragically, this is the second multi-fatal accident involving the Armed Forces in less than a month, coming so soon after the USS Fitzgerald collision with a cargo ship off the coast of Japan on June 17. Our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line every day to defend our great nation and the freedoms we cherish. We should keep them in our prayers always, and never take their sacrifice for granted.”

About the Archdiocese for the Military Services

The AMS was established as an independent archdiocese by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1985 as the only Catholic jurisdiction responsible for endorsing and granting faculties for priests to serve as chaplains in the U.S. military and VA Medical Centers.

AMS-endorsed priests serve at more than 220 U.S. military installations in 29 countries, making the AMS the nation's only global archdiocese.

AMS-endorsed chaplains also serve at 153 VA Medical Centers throughout the U.S. The AMS service population also includes American Catholic civilians working for the federal government in 134 countries, but currently, due to limited resources, the AMS cannot adequately serve this population.

Worldwide, an estimated 1.8 million Catholics depend on the AMS to meet their spiritual and sacramental needs.

For more information on the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, visit milarch.org, the only official website for Catholics in the U.S. Military.

For information on the Cause of Father Vincent R. Capodanno, M.M., visit capodannoguild.org.