Catholic bishops have released a pastoral letter addressing the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). The letter, titled “The Face of Christ in a Digital Age,” urges Christians to discern how to live the Gospel amid AI. The bishops highlight AI’s potential benefits in healthcare, education, and humanitarian efforts while warning of risks like job displacement and manipulation of truth. They emphasize the importance of developing virtue and forming conscience to avoid manipulation by algorithms, and they stress that AI can never replicate the human soul.
about 1 month ago
Catholic bishops from Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C., have released a pastoral letter titled "The Face of Christ in a Digital Age," addressing the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications for the Church and society 1 2 3. The letter, signed by Archbishop William Lori and other bishops, urges Christians to approach AI with discernment and a focus on human dignity 1 2.
The bishops emphasize that while AI presents opportunities, it also poses significant challenges 1 3. They assert that no matter how advanced AI becomes, it can never replicate the human soul, conscience, or eternal destiny 1 2 3. Referencing Catholic social teaching, the letter calls for AI to serve humanity and uphold the dignity of each person 2. The letter was released ahead of Pentecost, framing technology as not foreign to the Holy Spirit, but also warning against domination, deception, and dehumanization 1 2.
The pastoral letter highlights potential risks associated with AI, including job displacement, the use of lethal autonomous weapons, and the manipulation of truth through digitally fabricated content 1 3. The bishops caution against allowing technology to shape humanity in its image, urging instead that AI be shaped according to the Gospel 1 2. The letter stresses the need to avoid the reduction of human intelligence to mere "functional intelligence without thinking or understanding" 1.
The bishops acknowledge AI's potential benefits in areas such as health care, education, evangelization, and humanitarian efforts 1 3. They state that AI, when developed and used ethically, can contribute to the mission of the Church and the common good 2. The letter draws parallels to historical technological advancements like the printing press and the internet, suggesting AI can be a tool directed toward holiness and human development 1 2.
The letter strongly emphasizes the development of virtue and the formation of conscience, particularly among young people, to resist manipulation by algorithms 1 3. It calls for grounding digital engagement and media literacy in Scripture and the sacramental life, and for cultivating real empathy and authentic relationships 1. Digital tools can inform, but they cannot form the heart, the bishops write 1 3.
Michael Hanby, a professor at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, suggests the letter doesn't go far enough in addressing the dangers of AI 1 3. Hanby notes the unforeseen dangers inherent in powerful technologies and calls for more philosophical thinking about AI 1. He questions whether AI can truly be shaped according to the Gospel and emphasizes the need to distinguish the movement of the Spirit from technological progress 1 3.
How does Catholic anthropology inform engagement with artificial intelligence?
Catholic anthropology, which centers on the dignity of the human person, provides a crucial ethical framework for engaging with artificial intelligence . This framework ensures AI development and deployment respect human dignity, promote the common good, and remain aligned with humanity's vocation to the good .
Here's how Catholic anthropology informs engagement with AI:
In conclusion, Catholic anthropology insists that AI be developed and used in ways that always support and promote the dignity of every human being and their integral vocation . This requires careful ethical reflection, a commitment to the common good, and vigilance against potential misuses that could diminish human dignity or exacerbate social inequalities .