Natalie K Watson, Publishing Editor of the Pastoral Review, in conversation with Seán McDonagh, eco-theologian and author of Robots, Ethics and the Future of Jobs, about the ethical and theological implications of Artificial Intelligence.
Seán McDonagh SSC is an Irish Columban missionary priest. As well as theology he has studied Anthropology and Linguistics. During his time as a missionary among the T'boli people in SE Mindanao, Philippines, he became aware of the enormous destruction of the environment which was taking place and has continued to challenge behaviour which destroys the Earth and impoverishes People.
Fr McDonagh acknowledged the benefits of huge advances in technology, singling out diagnostics in medicine, such as the prediction of heart attacks, and new technologies for eye surgery. And of course, coping with the Covid-19 pandemic has been helped by widespread remote communication, helping people to stay connected and work during lockdown. Terms such as “zooming” and “webinars” have become commonplace.
However, he echoed the concerns of Pope Francis about the “technocratic paradigm” and felt new technologies should be an issue in the synodality process when discussing the future of the Church and worship. Fr McDonagh took the view that worship is about community and virtual services, “are not what community and Eucharist have meant to people.” Streaming services have been a lifeline during the pandemic, but the ideal is people coming together in participatory liturgies. He called for dialogue: Can relationships through our computer be more real than our local and parish communities? How far should churches become “smart churches” – reaching out through web, mobile, video, social media and email marketing?
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