Catholic Nuns Push for Ethical AI: Human Creativity vs Machine Generation

Published Date : 29/07/2025 

Catholic nuns and media professionals are exploring the ethical use of artificial intelligence, emphasizing the importance of human creativity and dignity in the age of AI. 

In the evolving landscape of technology, a group of Catholic nuns and media professionals are advocating for the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI). Sister Nancy Usselmann, a prominent figure in this movement, emphasizes the importance of using AI for the Church’s mission of evangelization while maintaining a focus on human dignity and creativity.

AI technologies created by Catholics are already making significant strides. Companies like Longbeard, Magisterium AI, and Truthly offer daily Mass readings and liturgical resources at the click of a button. These tools are drawing from the extensive libraries of pontifical universities in Rome, providing access to a wealth of theological and philosophical knowledge.

Many of these Catholic AI tools include sourcing and footnotes, explaining where in the Church’s teaching the information was found. “And that’s phenomenal because it’s helping us learn,” Usselmann said. “It’s being a research tool, but it’s not taking away our own ability to discover.”

One notable application is the Grace app, a generative AI model that provides personalized spiritual guidance. “It’s not replacing traditional spiritual guidance in the Church, but it gives personalized spiritual guidance or companionship to help somebody grow in their faith,” Usselmann explained. While she acknowledges the potential concerns, she finds the technology “really interesting.”

Usselmann and other Catholics working in the media emphasize the need to “help people think and question” AI. They stress the importance of understanding why AI is being used and ensuring it supports human dignity without diminishing our ability to reason and solve problems.

One of the key messages from Usselmann is that while AI has many capabilities, it cannot create in the same way that human beings can. “Human beings create, machines generate. So they’re just generating based on information that’s out there — learned algorithms and learned practices that it’s being fed. But human beings, we have this amazing gift of creativity because we are made in God’s image and likeness. God, who is the creator, endowed us with this spark, this element of God-likeness, which is creativity.”

She further explains that this creativity comes from the depth of the person, body and soul, where we reflect, think, and express ourselves. “It’s where we have moral agency, which is something a machine cannot do. Can AI generate beauty and art? Maybe. But where does beauty and art come from? It comes from our God-likeness, being made in God’s image and likeness.”

Usselmann plans to expand her knowledge of AI and keep the conversation around the technology open. This fall, she will attend the Builders AI Forum hosted by the Pontifical Gregorian University at the Collegium Maximum in Rome. The event aims to foster a new interdisciplinary community of practice dedicated to developing AI products that serve the Church’s mission. It will bring together companies leading in Catholic AI, venture capital and angel investors, as well as prominent AI thought leaders and researchers.

While many attendees are going as creators and investors, Usselmann is attending as an investigator. She explains that guests will discuss innovative new ideas while having educators and theologians help ask questions to ensure future AI aligns with the Church’s understanding of Christian anthropology. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the main concern of Catholic nuns regarding AI?

A: The main concern of Catholic nuns regarding AI is ensuring that its use supports human dignity and does not diminish our ability to reason and think through problems.

Q: What are some examples of Catholic AI tools?

A: Examples of Catholic AI tools include Longbeard, Magisterium AI, and Truthly, which provide daily Mass readings and liturgical resources, and the Grace app, which offers personalized spiritual guidance.

Q: How does Sister Nancy Usselmann differentiate between human creativity and machine generation?

A: Sister Nancy Usselmann differentiates between human creativity and machine generation by emphasizing that human beings create from a deep, God-given spark of creativity, while machines only generate based on learned algorithms and information.

Q: What is the purpose of the Builders AI Forum?

A: The purpose of the Builders AI Forum is to foster a new interdisciplinary community of practice dedicated to developing AI products that serve the Church’s mission, bringing together companies, investors, and AI thought leaders.

Q: How does AI contribute to the Church’s mission of evangelization?

A: AI contributes to the Church’s mission of evangelization by providing tools that offer daily Mass readings, liturgical resources, and personalized spiritual guidance, helping people grow in their faith and understanding of Church teachings. 

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