No need to fear AI says Farm Street priest

News briefings Britain and Ireland

Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, parish priest at Farm Street Jesuit Church in London, told a panel on exploring the moral and spiritual challenges of artificial intelligence, “We should not be fearful of AI.” First speaker at the Farm Street event, organised in collaboration with the Catholic Union, was Jen Copestake, a correspondent with CGTN Europe and a parishioner at Farm Street, who pointed to the growing use of AI and robotics in areas such as healthcare. She raised concerns about the future of work and the issue that AI is very heavy on energy and yet Catholic Social Teaching urges living more simply within environmental limits. Matthew Harvey Sanders, chief executive of Longbeard, creator of Magisterium AI, agreed that jobs are under threat, but said, “We should not be pessimistic.” He said the Church has an “important” voice to prepare people for the transition and perhaps humanity in the future could “value flourishing over productivity”.  He was concerned that companies are moving to AI without “robust conversation in civil society.” Fr Michael Baggot, invited professor of theology at Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas in Rome, said AI offers tremendous potential in such areas as research and data analysis, but “can never replace responsibility for decision-making in such areas as criminal justice and warfare”. He doubted it could replace the ministry of a priest. He was pleased to see Vatican engagement with ethical considerations surrounding it. Fr Michael Baggot, Invited Professor of Theology at Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas in Rome, said AI offers tremendous potential in areas as research and data analysis but “can never replace responsibility for decision-making in such areas as criminal justice and warfare”.   

 Panel of speakers at the  discussion, ‘AI, Faith and Ethics at the Crossroads: Discerning the Way Forward’ . Pic by Catholic Westminster.

Around 1,400 schoolchildren from 22 schools across Greater Manchester and Lancashire sang in the debut performance of “Songs of the Earth”, a new set of six short choral songs inspired by nature and created by schoolchildren from the Diocese of Salford. The “celebration of music, faith and care for our common home” took place at the Lyric Theatre at The Lowry, Salford Quays, on 16 May. Schools taking part in the Salford Schools Singing Programme were debuting the new choral work inspired by the late Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ and developed by schools through workshops at Salford’s Laudato Si’ Centre, assisted by Bolton-born songwriter, Hannah King. Salford Cathedral’s music department also worked with schools across the diocese to develop skills in songwriting and performance in a project called the “Salford Songbook”. Sir John Rutter, the celebrated choral composer and patron of the National Schools Singing Programme, conducted a performance of his work “Look at the World”. He said afterwards, “This is one of the most exciting musical events for me of the whole year.” A resource pack, including sheet music and recordings, is available to enable more schools to celebrate and explore the teachings of Laudato Si’ through music. See: salfordcathedral.co.uk/songbook/

The first practising Roman Catholic to represent King Charles at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland told the assembly she was “profoundly honoured” to have been chosen to be Lord High Commissioner at the annual gathering which opened in Edinburgh on 17 May. Lady Elish Angiolini’s appointment was only made possible after both Houses of Parliament in London changed a law dating back to 1689 that barred Roman Catholics from holding the role. “I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who helped secure my presence here today,” she said. She expressed her belief that “prejudice and sectarianism can be overcome”. 

In a message for Knife Crime Awareness week (19-25 May) Archbishop of Southwark John Wilson said, “Tragically, knife crime continues to blight our communities.” In a video released for Caritas Southwark’s work with the Mizen Foundation and the Synergy Network’s One Pledge, One Change campaign, Archbishop Wilson added: “With more young people losing their lives to violence each week. Violence is never the answer. We cannot solve anything with violence.” He called for all people to show we are “people of peace”. In a pastoral letter released on Safeguarding Sunday (19 May), the Archbishop said: “The safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults is not a peripheral issue.” He added: “ It is central to our faithfulness as disciples of the Lord Jesus. It is a sacred responsibility.” 

Dr Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury, will speak at the annual National Justice and Peace Network Conference 25-27 July in Derbyshire on the theme: “Towards a Just Peace – Challenging the Inevitability of Violence.” The conference, which draws justice and peace activists from the dioceses of England and Wales, will also hear from Andrew Jackson and Sr Katrina Alton of Pax Christi England and Wales about work of the Catholic Church to reclaim nonviolence. Dr Joanna Frew of Rethinking Security will explore what real security looks like today. Other contributors include Cafod, Columbans, Csan and Jesuit Missions.

Around 90 young Catholics gathered for a Youth 2000 retreat at the Briars Retreat Centre in Matlock. The day included a Mass led by Bishop of Nottingham Patrick McKinney, as well as adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and a Eucharistic healing service. Keynote speaker Lucy Treloar, who spoke on the Sacrament of Reconciliation, called the day “a real sign of hope in the Church.” She said: “It felt like a real day of community. A highlight for me was the healing service and evening of praise. To see young people face to face with Jesus was so beautiful and afterwards everyone facing the Blessed Sacrament and praising God.”

“We Believe – A Festival of Catholic Life” will be held at St Mary’s College, Oscott, Sutton Coldfield  26-28 July. Open to individuals, families and parish groups, it will feature stories, music, and worship. The new festival is organised by the Guild of Our Lady of Ransom in collaboration with St Mary’s College. It brings together Catholic ministries from across the UK to mark the 2025 Jubilee Year, proclaimed by Pope Francis, with a celebration of Catholic life. It features musicians, artists and speakers, including Dr Gianna Emanuela Molla (daughter of St Gianna Molla), Fr Paul Murray and AnMari.

Theologian Sr Birgit Weiler has said she “hopes very much” that Pope Leo XIV, who is a canon lawyer, will put more emphasis on a developing a church constitution to safeguard the rights of all members. Speaking after her address to a We Are Church International webinar on the theme of equality in the Church, she said, “I consider this absolutely necessary.” The Professor of Theology at the Pontificia Universidade Católica del Perú, who was a Consultor for the General Secretariat of the Synod, said Pope Leo is “convinced” by synodality.

The first priest ordained in Ireland since the election of Pope Leo XIV has said he feels a real sense of renewal in the Catholic faith.  Speaking after he celebrated his first Mass, Fr Tim Collins of Limerick Diocese said he was struck by the engagement of all generations, including young people, following Pope Leo’s election. “Whether it was the joyous faces in Rome or the young people I’ve met and spoken to here since, there seems a genuine outpouring of delight and hope.” In his ordination homily, Bishop Leahy told Fr Tim, “Your vocation is a noble one.”

Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin Denis Nulty has said he believes that the writing of Pope Leo XIII and his encyclical Rerum Novarum would have been formative in the faith journey of Blessed John Sullivan SJ. At the annual Mass of thanksgiving at Clongowes Wood College for favours received through the intercession of the Irish Jesuit, Bishop Nulty noted that John Sullivan had everything a young man could dream of before he became a Jesuit. Likewise Pope Leo XIV turned down a place at Harvard Law School and a six-figure career to pursue his vocation as a missionary in Peru. “None of us know the power of invitation and the grace of a response,” he said.

Around 150 young people attended a talk given by Sr Mary Grace SV in St Mary and St Anne’s Cathedral in Cork on “Hope does not disappoint” as part of the Connect series for young adults. The Sydney-native took her first vows in 2018 after graduating from the University of Notre Dame in Australia with a degree in theology. A member of the Sisters for Life in Denver, Colorado, she told the young people, “Hope is the greatest self-help we can invest in.” Recalling her own vocation story and promoting the Litany Trust card she said, “God finds us wherever we are.”

Edinburgh-born committed Catholic Sir Tom Farmer, founder of Kwik Fit garages, died on 9 May at the age of 84. After he became a Knight Commander with Star of the Order of St Gregory the Great in 1997, receiving the accolade from Pope John Paul II, Sir Tom was awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in 2005. Paying tribute, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh Leo Cushley said Sir Tom “was a great support to his church and generously promoted ecumenical friendships in the city. Sir Tom was also a good friend and guide to me personally”.

The former Bishop of Menevia and Abbot of Belmont Abbey, Mark Jabalé OSB died on 9 May. He was 91 years old. Appointed coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Menevia in 2001, six months after his retirement in 2009, he was inducted as parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, by then Archbishop of Birmingham, Vincent Nichols. He said it was “very rare” for a retired bishop to be inducted as a parish priest. Jabalé’s body will be received and a Mass of remembrance held on 30 May, at 11am in St Joseph’s Co-Cathedral, Swansea. His Requiem Mass will take place on 5 June, at 12 noon in Belmont Abbey, Herefordshire. 

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