By Tyler Arnold
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jun 9, 2025 /
17:08 pm
As lawmakers consider rules related to the development of artificial intelligence (AI), the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is urging them to prioritize “the life and dignity of the human person and the common good.”
“Artificial intelligence is rapidly shaping the future of our society,” Bishop William D. Byrne, the chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Communications, said in a statement.
“As pastors entrusted with the care of human life and dignity, we urge lawmakers to heed the call of our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, to help ensure that AI is developed with responsibility and discernment so that it may truly benefit every person,” Byrne said.
Although Congress is not currently debating comprehensive AI regulations, the House-passed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” could have a major impact on the technology moving forward. One provision in the bill would restrict states from regulating AI for 10 years, essentially federalizing the issue.
That bill is now in the Senate, where it’s expected to face some adjustments. If the pending Senate version passes, it will be sent back to the House.
The bishops, while acknowledging in their letter to congressional leaders that they are “not technical experts,” wrote that they are speaking as pastors and laid out ethical principles and policy considerations on which they hope lawmakers will reflect.
“Please be assured of our prayers and readiness to assist you in this important and timely work,” the bishops wrote.
Ethical principles
One of the primary ethical concerns the bishops noted is “the inherent dignity of every human person,” which they wrote “must always be at the center of technological development.”
“AI is a tool that, when informed by sound moral principles, can help overcome many of life’s obstacles and improve the human condition,” the bishops wrote. “But this technology should supplement what human beings do, not replace them or their moral judgments. We also must avoid temptations toward transhumanism or equating AI itself with human life.”
The bishops also expressed concern for people facing economic hardships, noting that “AI will only serve all when it works to assist our poorest and most vulnerable sisters and brothers and when they can equitably participate in and benefit from its development and use.”
A third ethical principle highlighted by the bishops was “respect for the truth,” stating that “AI is being used by some to undermine the dignity of persons and respect for the truth” with a misuse of news and political information and deepfakes, adding: “AI systems must have human oversight and well-defined accountability in order to promote transparency and fair democratic processes.”
Policy considerations
On matters of policy, the bishops argued that AI can provide benefits to society when used in moral ways but that it can be detrimental to society if it is used unethically or lacks necessary safeguards.
For example, when it comes to family issues, they note AI “can contribute to the efficiency of certain daily tasks and aid in communication” but that “the isolating effect of technology needs to be counteracted.” They said AI should also “work to strengthen and support family life” and ensure it is not used to “promote or enhance morally offensive uses of reproductive technologies and genetic manipulation.”
On economics, the bishops also echoed a very popular concern of “job displacement, inequality, and exploitation” from AI, stating that “policies and regulations should ensure protections for workers, promote education and job training, require public accountability for government use of AI, and require human oversight in AI-driven employment decisions.”
(Story continues below)
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
“To encourage the artistic and creative spirit, we also call for the protection of data and intellectual property rights,” the bishops wrote.
The bishops wrote positively that AI “has the potential to improve many aspects of life and society” on matters such as the need for food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and social services. They noted AI “has led to the development of new medicines and technologies to improve health” and “it can support new tools for learning and transform how we communicate and participate in society.”
Alternatively, they warned that if not regulated properly, “it has even greater possibilities of further polarizing society and worsening inequalities,” highlighting concerns about how it has been used for automated decision-making, such as with employment screening, health care, public benefit screening, and immigration processing.
“[It] can reinforce existing biases or introduce a utilitarian approach devoid of necessary human considerations, with potentially devastating consequences,” the bishops wrote.
They also noted positives and negatives on energy and the environment, stating that AI can be used “in finding solutions to the current crises of energy and the environment,” but wrote that they are concerned about expenditures of energy, the consumption of resources, and electronic waste containing mercury and lead.
On matters of war, the bishops expressed further concern about “the development and use of lethal autonomous weapons,” adding that “policies should make clear that human control over any weapon system is essential to mitigate the horrors of warfare and the undermining of fundamental human rights.”
The USCCB wrote in the letter that these principles and guidelines “are not intended to be exhaustive” but are rather “a modest initial reflection for your consideration as you deliberate on options for federal policy and regulatory action.”
Tyler Arnold is a staff reporter for Catholic News Agency, based in EWTN News’ Washington Bureau. He previously worked at The Center Square and has been published in a variety of outlets, including The Associated Press, National Review, The American Conservative, and The Federalist.
