Catholic Answers Live #12211 Will Pope Leo Shape the Church’s Response to AI? | Flannel Panel - Christopher Check
May 26, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Chris Check, President of Catholic Answers, and Joe Heschmeyer, an Apologist and author, tackle the moral dilemmas posed by artificial intelligence. They explore how Pope Leo XIV might guide the Church's ethical stance in this new technological era. The conversation also touches on the historical significance of past Popes named Leo and how their legacies might inform the current response to AI. Additionally, they highlight the renewed interest in Catholic pilgrimages, emphasizing their spiritual importance.
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Episode notes
Pope's Role Is Moral, Not Political
- The question "What could the Catholic Church do to regulate AI?" reflects a misunderstanding of the pope's role as a moral leader versus a political ruler.
- Moral authority influences societal norms, but the pope cannot enforce political regulations on AI technologies.
Techno-Nihilism and Resignation
- The era of techno-optimism has shifted to techno-nihilism, where technology is seen as inevitable and uncontrollable.
- This resignation discourages moral resistance, echoing broader societal surrender to inevitable change.
Pope Leo’s Impact on Labor
- Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum shaped modern labor relations, balancing industrial challenges and avoiding extremes like communism.
- The Church's social teaching materially impacted 20th-century worker conditions positively.
