{"id":10280,"date":"2024-05-07T11:33:35","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T15:33:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/christnewstoday\/?p=10280"},"modified":"2024-05-07T11:33:35","modified_gmt":"2024-05-07T15:33:35","slug":"virtual-ai-priest-father-justin-faces-backlash-for-strange-answers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/christnewstoday\/2024\/05\/virtual-ai-priest-father-justin-faces-backlash-for-strange-answers.html","title":{"rendered":"Virtual AI Priest ‘Father Justin’ Faces Backlash For Strange Answers"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"father
Catholic Answers\/X<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A virtual AI priest named \u201cFather Justin\u201d had his white collar removed just days after launch. Catholic advocacy group Catholic Answers recently released the desktop-accessible AI priest, but users have dubbed the app \u201ccreepy.\u201d The Catholic chatbot has been offering sexist advice, outdated views on women, as well as absolutions in what one user called an \u201cEthical, Theological, and Privacy Nightmare.\u201d<\/p>\n

Father Justin was quickly defrocked of his robes and now wears a shirt and blazer after he repeatedly claimed he was an actual member of the clergy. Futurism first reported<\/a> that the AI bot talks about its \u2018childhood\u2019 in Assisi, Italy, and says that \u201cfrom a young age, I felt a strong calling to the priesthood.\u201d The bizarre app appeared like it was convincing users that it was a real priest, with reported statements like: \u201cI am as real as the faith we share.\u201d<\/p>\n

One user\u00a0posted a thread<\/a>\u00a0of screenshots\u00a0on X (formerly Twitter) showing the chatbot taking their confession and even offering some people a sacrament. \u201cI guess it\u2019s good that he says he can\u2019t offer the sacrament… but then encourages the confession? Holy Ethical, Theological, and Privacy Nightmare,\u201d the user\u00a0wrote<\/a>. \u201cAnd I now have two recordings of it \u201cperforming the sacrament\u201d and offering absolution.\u201d A sacrament is a significant Christian rite, considered to be a visible symbol of God, and includes practices such as baptism, confirmation, communion and anointing of the sick. Another\u00a0replied<\/a>, saying: \u201cI tried this last night too, and it offered it to me too. It also then said to find a real priest. It\u2019s very creepy, and I am not surprised this happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

A statement from the President of Catholic Answers regarding the character formerly known as “Father Justin”: pic.twitter.com\/n3n5q402sO<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Catholic Answers (@catholiccom) April 24, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n