Catholic technology leaders said artificial intelligence should be developed and used in ways that protect human dignity, strengthen ministry, and preserve human relationships. During an EWTN News special, speakers highlighted AI’s potential to expand access to vulnerable people and improve Church administration, while urging ethical policies, parental guidance, and stronger participation by Catholics in technology leadership. 1 2

The Church’s emerging AI framework

The discussion took place during the Sept. 9 EWTN News special “Beyond Fear: A Catholic Vision for Artificial Intelligence,” hosted by Montse Alvarado, president and chief operating officer of EWTN News. The program examined Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, as a framework for understanding AI as a fundamentally human and ethical challenge. 1 2

Participants said AI is rapidly changing both society and the Church. They called for human-centered leadership, faith-guided discernment, and clear limits so that technology supports rather than replaces human ministry. 1 2

Potential benefits and risks

Joel Chakra, president of the Tim Tebow Foundation and an AI-focused venture capitalist, said technological innovation can help organizations reach vulnerable people more quickly. He and other participants argued that Catholics should take a more active role in shaping technological development rather than remaining on the sidelines. 1 2

Arthur C. Brooks, an author and academic who wrote the foreword to Magnifica Humanitas, said AI can either diminish or enhance human dignity depending on how it is used. He acknowledged concerns about job displacement and social disruption but said he remained optimistic about humanity’s ability to solve problems. 1 2

Former Google senior vice president Vic Gundotra described AI as helpful in his own conversion to Catholicism, saying it introduced him to the teachings of the early Church Fathers. He also warned that AI can amplify harmful human traits and said parents need to guide young people in using the technology. 1 2

AI’s role in Church ministry

Sara Anderson of Pushpay said her organization uses AI to streamline parish administration, including reducing manual data entry and modernizing outdated systems. She said the purpose is to give priests, volunteers, and parish staff more time for ministry rather than to replace personal relationships. 1 2

Anderson also said new technology could help the Church respond to people who want to learn about or join Catholicism. She encouraged parish administrators and office staff to explore AI and become leaders in combining technology with faith. 1 2

Calls for ethical boundaries and leadership

The speakers said the Church needs explicit AI policies, ethical standards, and practical frameworks to determine appropriate uses of the technology. These boundaries are intended to ensure that AI remains a tool serving people and does not displace human connection or responsibility. 1 2

Chakra and Anderson also urged more faith-filled people to pursue influential roles in technology and innovation. Their stated goal was greater Catholic participation in decisions about how AI is designed, governed, and applied in daily life and Church institutions. 1 2