The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) appointed Charles Camosy, an associate professor of moral theology at The Catholic University of America, to its new Task Force on Preserving Human Dignity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence on Friday, October 16, 2026. Based in Washington, D.C., the national religious body assembled the 11-person roster to guide how the Catholic Church in the United States addresses rapid technological shifts, engages with frontier AI laboratories, and advocates for ethical standards that protect workers, families, and democratic institutions.

The appointments formalize an initiative the USCCB established on September 16, 2026, following discussions between the conference’s Administrative Committee and technology specialists in Washington. According to The Catholic University of America, the bishops created the body in direct response to Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, which called on religious and civic leaders to foster a culture of shared responsibility as automated systems reshape global society.

Structure of the AI Task Force and Lay Appointments

The newly announced roster brings together clergy from major American dioceses alongside academic specialists in bioethics, philosophy, and public policy. While The Catholic University of America describes Camosy as one of three lay members of the 11-member body who are advising the group, both Notre Dame News and Angelus News report that the three lay scholars serve formally as consultants to the task force.

Bishop Oscar Cantú of San José—whose California diocese covers much of Silicon Valley, the primary commercial hub of artificial intelligence development—chairs the group. He is joined by seven other bishops representing diverse geographic regions across the United States:

  • Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago
  • Archbishop Paul D. Etienne of Seattle
  • Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre of Louisville
  • Bishop Barry C. Knestout of Richmond
  • Auxiliary Bishop James Massa of Brooklyn
  • Bishop Michael F. Olson of Fort Worth
  • Auxiliary Bishop Sławomir Szkredka of Los Angeles

Alongside Camosy, the lay scholars advising the bishops are Kim Daniels, director of Georgetown University’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, and Meghan Sullivan, the Wilsey Family College Professor of Philosophy and director of the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good at the University of Notre Dame.

Bridging Moral Theology and Silicon Valley

For the USCCB, bringing Camosy into the initiative adds a scholar who has already established direct lines of communication with major technology developers. An specialist in bioethics and Catholic social doctrine, Camosy leads a research project examining transhumanism and the human body at the University of Southern California’s Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies. He has authored nine books, including works focused on medical ethics and social welfare, and previously taught at the Creighton University School of Medicine and Fordham University.

Camosy’s recent work has focused heavily on how automated systems affect human dignity, modern warfare, and labor markets. Earlier in October 2026, he discussed his direct meetings with artificial intelligence developers, including the frontier lab Anthropic, in an interview with the National Catholic Register. Furthermore, in an October 14 essay for the Washington Examiner, Camosy noted that one of the primary objectives of the Church’s engagement is to continue building constructive relationships with Silicon Valley engineers and AI laboratories.

“I’m honored to work with both the bishops and lay consultors on this important task force,” Camosy said in a statement released by his university. “Bishop Cantú has said that our mandate is to not boil the ocean, but we do have quite a bit of work before us. Many of us have seen firsthand how many different kinds of people and institutions are looking to the Catholic Church to bring moral clarity amid the rapid changes of the AI moment.”

Academic Frameworks and Institutional Goals

The task force is designed to operate as both an external interlocutor with the tech sector and an internal resource for Catholic institutions. In its founding mandate, the USCCB stated that the group will maintain ongoing dialogues with frontier labs, academic centers, and research organizations across the country to help the Church respond “faithfully, prudently, and effectively to the opportunities and challenges presented by AI-related emerging technologies.”

According to Notre Dame News, the bishops’ September 16 charter specifically directs the group to promote policies and practices that safeguard religious liberty, democratic institutions, workers, families, and vulnerable populations.

To accomplish this, the task force is drawing on established academic initiatives created by its lay consultants. In September 2025, Notre Dame’s Meghan Sullivan launched the DELTA framework—an ethical model built around five principles for human formation: dignity, embodiment, love, transcendence, and agency. Since introducing the model, Sullivan and her team have conducted more than 80 in-person training sessions and events aimed at giving leaders in education, industry, and the Church practical tools to evaluate technological change.

“When we developed the DELTA framework, we hoped that it would be of use to Church leaders, and I look forward to supporting the bishops as they undertake this important work,” Sullivan said regarding her appointment. Notre Dame Provost John T. McGreevy added that major Catholic research universities carry a specific responsibility to apply their scholarship to the most consequential questions facing modern society.

Broader Implications for AI Governance

The formation of the USCCB task force reflects a growing trend among major religious and civic institutions to move beyond abstract philosophical commentary and seek direct seats at the table with software developers and lawmakers. As generative artificial intelligence increasingly influences political communication, labor automation, and healthcare delivery, faith organizations are positioning themselves as institutional counterweights advocating for human-centric guardrails.

What concrete policies or resources will the task force produce?

While the USCCB has not yet published a specific schedule of deliverables, the group’s mandate centers on sustaining direct dialogue with frontier AI labs and advising the wider U.S. Church. By integrating scholars like Sullivan, who already oversees active training programs via the DELTA framework, and Daniels, who leads public policy discussions at Georgetown, the task force is positioned to translate Catholic social teaching into practical guidelines for parishes, schools, healthcare networks, and industry executives.

Will the task force address specific applications like labor, healthcare, and politics?

Yes. The backgrounds of the appointed consultants and the language of the September charter indicate a strong focus on real-world applications. Camosy has specifically written on the ethical implications of AI in the workplace, medicine, and military conflict, while the USCCB explicitly cited the protection of workers, families, vulnerable populations, and democratic institutions as core pillars of the group’s mission.

Sources

Read More