Catholic Answers Responds to Backlash Over AI Priest Apologetics App
In a bold move that sparked controversy, Catholic Answers recently unveiled an artificial intelligence priest apologetics application named “Fr. Justin.” However, the organization faced backlash for representing the AI character as a priest.
Christopher Check, president of Catholic Answers, responded to the criticism by announcing that the AI character will no longer be referred to with a priestly title. Check acknowledged the feedback received and stated, “We won’t say he’s been laicized, because he was never a real priest! He’ll be available to visitors to Catholic.com as ‘Justin’ until a new lay character is created for the app.”
The original purpose of Fr. Justin was to provide sound answers to questions about the Catholic faith using artificial intelligence technology. The AI character was designed to engage users in a back-and-forth interaction to provide educational answers about Catholicism.
Chris Costello, director of information technology at Catholic Answers, emphasized that while the AI character is not a substitute for human interaction with a priest, it can help users better understand and articulate the teachings of the Catholic faith.
Catholic Answers is committed to leveraging the latest technologies to advance its mission of explaining and defending the Catholic faith. The organization aims to provide a new and appealing way for individuals to explore their faith journey.
Despite the controversy surrounding the AI priest character, Catholic Answers remains dedicated to serving Christ by explaining and defending the faith through various media platforms, including podcasts, videos, and an encyclopedia of information about the Catholic Church.