introduction

Dear School Leaders,

Inspired by my recent reading, I wanted to share some thoughts I put together on the ethical use of AI through the lens of Catholic teaching. I know this is a busy time of year, so feel free to set this aside and return to it when it fits your schedule.

For your convenience, I’ve included a short prayer and some discussion questions you might use with faculty. There is no pressure at all, but it may be a helpful resource if you're thinking ahead to a PD session or community conversation.

Next week, I’ll follow up with a few sample AI policies I’ve encountered in Catholic schools. Hopefully, they’ll come in handy, too!

Introduction

Let's face it, artificial intelligence is no longer the stuff of sci-fi movies and tech conferences. It's here. It's writing essays, customizing lesson plans, and even chiming in on how our students engage with the world around them. In classrooms everywhere, AI is changing the game. 

But for us, as Catholic educators following in the footsteps of Blessed Edmund Rice, the real question isn't about keeping up. It's about leading with purpose. How do we ensure AI serves humanity, not vice versa?

The good news is that the Church is already speaking clearly and courageously in this space, and what it's saying is grounded in the Gospel.

The Human Person Comes First

At the heart of Catholic Social Teaching is a deep and beautiful conviction: every person is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27), which is our starting point. Always.

AI may be able to process data faster than we can blink, but it can't pray, hope, love, carry the weight of moral decisions, or build communion. Only a human heart can do that.

Pope Francis, in his 2024 World Day of Peace message, reminded us:
"Artificial intelligence must never substitute for human dignity or replace moral conscience."

Instead, he calls us to make space for reflection, formation, and a renewed sense of responsibility.

What the Church Offers: A Moral Framework for AI

In 2020, the Vatican helped launch the Rome Call for AI Ethics, partnering with major tech companies like Microsoft and IBM. It outlined six key principles for developing and using AI:

·         Transparency – Know how decisions are made.

·         Inclusion – Everyone should benefit, not just a few.

·         Responsibility – People, not machines, are accountable.

·         Impartiality – Guard against bias.

·         Reliability – Technology should be safe and consistent.

·         Security and Privacy – Protect human dignity in the digital world.

These principles sound like our Essential Elements: faith, justice, integrity, and community. This isn't new ground; it's familiar and sacred territory. We are already ahead of the curve!

In the Classroom: Holding the Tension

AI brings incredible opportunities, such as adaptive learning, extra support for diverse learners, and, yes, a little time back for teachers.

But it also brings some serious challenges:

• Will it depersonalize education?

• Will it shape how our students define success?

• Will it tempt us to value speed and productivity over presence and purpose?

We must be asking these questions not out of fear but out of our deep love for the young people we serve.

Justice, Equity, and Our Global Mission

Edmund Rice listened to the cries of people with low incomes and responded with education. We are called to do the same, even (and especially) in a world increasingly shaped by technology.

We need to:

• Teach digital literacy through a moral lens

• Advocate for equitable access to safe technology

•  Integrate Catholic anthropology into our STEM curriculum

•  Most importantly, we should remind our students that what makes us human can't be downloaded.

A Spiritual and Educational Challenge

AI will never kneel in prayer. It will never hunger for justice. It will never hear the call of the Gospel. But our students can. And our purpose as Edmund Rice educators is to ensure they do.

The rise of AI is more than a tech trend. It's a spiritual moment. One that invites us to tune our ears to God's voice amid the digital noise.

So, let's form students who are both clever and courageous, not just informed but transformed, grounded in compassion and justice, and alive with Gospel hope.

As Pope Francis puts it: "The development of artificial intelligence must always be at the service of human consciousness and dignity."

We're not being asked to panic or resist. We're invited to lead, not as tech gurus or Luddites but as stewards of God's timeless wisdom.

Let's walk with our students into the future. Boldly. Thoughtfully. Faithfully.

An Invitation to Conversation

If you're wondering how to begin this conversation with your school team, a good place to start might be a guided reflection on the Church's vision for the ethical use of technology.

Below, I have included a short prayer and discussion questions to help animate that conversation in your school community.

Prayer for Wisdom in the Age of AI

Leader:

Loving God,
You formed us in Your image and breathed the spirit of reason, imagination, and love into us. In this age of artificial intelligence and rapid innovation,
Please help us to remember that wisdom begins in wonder, and knowledge without virtue leads astray.

All:
Lord, may we always place the dignity of the human person above efficiency,
Compassion above convenience, and justice above profit.

Leader:
Bless our schools as places where faith seeks understanding,
Where truth is not only discovered, but lived,
And where every student is seen, not as data, but as beloved.

All:
Guide us, O Spirit of Truth,
That we may teach with clarity, lead with integrity, and learn with humility—
Always in service of the common good and Your Kingdom on earth.

Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Discussion Questions for Faculty and Staff

Essential Question:
“In light of our mission as Catholic educators in the Edmund Rice tradition, how do we ensure that new technologies, especially AI, serve our students rather than shape them in ways that compromise their dignity or formation?”

Discussion Questions:

1.       Human First:
AI is often praised for speed and efficiency. How do we preserve and prioritize the human dimension of education, relationships, presence, and empathy in a world where machines can do more?

2.       Dignity in the Digital Age:
Have you seen ways AI might reinforce or challenge human dignity in your classroom or school? What ethical lines should we draw?

3.       Equity and Inclusion:
Are all our students equally prepared to navigate a world shaped by AI? What might we do to ensure digital equity across our school community?

4.       Formation, Not Just Information:
How do we form students into discerning users of technology—critical thinkers who ask what AI can do and what it should do?

5.       Faith Integration:
What spiritual or theological resources (Scripture, Church teaching, lives of the saints) might help students grapple with the moral implications of AI?

6.       Teacher Tools or Temptation?
What are your thoughts on using AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, grading assistants) as an educator? Where’s the line between helpful support and pedagogical shortcuts?

With Gratitude for all you do for students and families,

Best, 

Cris 

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