Following the Asian Catholic Church’s use of AI in synod documents, a South Carolina priest said there was a split within the Catholic Church over the introduction of AI and that there was no room for it.
Based on biblical teachings, the South Carolina priests said humans were made in God’s image and not from AI, adding that the use of AI destroys the credibility of the synod process itself.
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According to the Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation, synods are “traditionally bishops’ gatherings” that help the church “walk together in the same direction.” The term “synod” comes from the Greek word “synodus”, meaning “same way” or “same way”.
As part of the global Synod process, the Asian Synod Continental Congress will be held in Bangkok, Thailand from February 24-26, followed by a Synod on Synodality in Rome in October, according to Vetican News. It is said that
AI is not welcome
according to fox news, Fr. Jeffrey Kirby, pastor of Our Lady of Grace in Indianland, South Carolina, disagrees that the development and use of AI “must always be left to humans.”
“Our greatest asset as a human family is our ability to form and build relationships,” said Fr. Kirby is also the moderator of the morning dedication program “Morning Offerings with Father Kirby”.
“Only by loving and being loved can we know the value and purpose of life. It is love that creates creativity.
“AI does not belong in the process of meetings. The Synod process is about the exchange of ideas, perspectives and life experiences,” he said.
AI-inspired meeting process
A Fox News report, citing Vetican News, said the Asian Continental Parliament was “the first continental parliament to incorporate the use of digital technology to gather feedback from amendments and participants.”
According to reports, Fr. Clarence Devadas, a Malaysian priest and former adviser to the Foreign Service for Interreligious Dialogue, told The Pillar that the process started with small groups, meeting throughout the congregation and working together. He said he had discussed the answers to the questions posed in the document. Continental phase published in the Vatican.
After the discussion, the group submitted a summary of their responses using Google Forms.
Once the data was received, the responses were put into the AI software.
Efficient AI
They were then given commands such as ‘Highlight common themes from the responses below’ or ‘Which response is specific only to a particular group?’
Father. According to Devadass, people reviewed the data to check for inaccuracies and praised the process for being efficient and effective.
“I would say that it was effective in classifying the data and picking out keywords. However, it needs human resources oversight to ensure that the data accurately reflects the atmosphere of the house.” he said.
“What would have taken hours was completed in minutes. But it was later checked again against the ‘raw data’ by members of the drafting committee to ensure the completeness of the response,” said Priest. added.
The popularity of AI tools this year, especially the use of chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, makes sense for their adoption in everyday life, including in churches.
Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, has become accustomed to using technology (in an ethical manner), but Fr. Kirby believes that using AI requires limits and a place of its own. At least not in the meeting process.
“The use of AI in the Synod process is the death of the real process itself,” he said.
“Synodality is about true human relationships and interactions. AI has no place in the Synod process.”
catholicism, controversy, technology
Since time immemorial, the Catholic Church, estimated at about 16% of the world’s population, criticism A controversy about a practice or belief in which opinions are divided.
Ranging from issues such as clerical celibacy, the ordination of women to priesthood, the use of Latin in Mass, sexual abuse scandals, contraceptive use, LGBT views, and involvement in political decisions, the Catholic Church You have set the agenda and public opinion many times.
You can add the topic of AI in the church to your list today. The question is, how should churches respond to the growing reliance on AI of the humans that make up their congregation?
Susan Barreto in the November article opinion The Church must not remain silent about this profound and rapid change to society. Leaders, including church leaders, need to “learn what’s out there, not just what’s in front of them.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced churches to adopt technology to reach out to believers, share prayers, provide counseling services, and set up support groups on virtual platforms.
life church onlineaccording to its leader Greg Gackle, said the church in the Metaverse started with 97 congregants but has since grown with other churches consulting on the process of starting worship in VR.
“We believe that technology can be used in powerful ways to help people engage with God,” explained Gackle, noting that the interactive nature of the service makes believers feel at home. added.
In general, the concern with AI is that it will spiral out of control and become irreversible, causing unpredictable changes in human civilization.
