A virtual AI priest named “Father Justin” 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 “creepy.” The Catholic chatbot has been offering sexist advice, outdated views on women, as well as absolutions in what one user called an “Ethical, Theological, and Privacy Nightmare.”
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 that the AI bot talks about its ‘childhood’ in Assisi, Italy, and says that “from a young age, I felt a strong calling to the priesthood.” The bizarre app appeared like it was convincing users that it was a real priest, with reported statements like: “I am as real as the faith we share.”
One user posted a thread of screenshots on X (formerly Twitter) showing the chatbot taking their confession and even offering some people a sacrament. “I guess it’s good that he says he can’t offer the sacrament… but then encourages the confession? Holy Ethical, Theological, and Privacy Nightmare,” the user wrote. “And I now have two recordings of it “performing the sacrament” and offering absolution.” 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 replied, saying: “I tried this last night too, and it offered it to me too. It also then said to find a real priest. It’s very creepy, and I am not surprised this happened.”
A statement from the President of Catholic Answers regarding the character formerly known as “Father Justin”: pic.twitter.com/n3n5q402sO
— Catholic Answers (@catholiccom) April 24, 2024
The app was intended to help inform people who are choosing to explore the Catholic faith, according to Chris Costello, IT director at Catholic Answers. “Although this is not a substitute for human interaction with a priest, teacher, or spiritual advisor, we believe it can be a valuable tool to help our users better understand and articulate the teachings of the Catholic faith,” he said in a statement on the day of the app’s launch. “We wanted to convey the spirit and nature of the responses users can expect—authoritative yet approachable, drawing from the deep well of Catholic tradition and teaching.
He continued, “We believe that the presentation of Father Justin honors real-life priests and the role they play in people’s lives, yet we are confident that our users will not mistake the AI for a human being.”