An Information, Communication Technology (ICT) expert, Mr Chinedu Chibuzor, says that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not replace Catholic priests in doing their pastoral duties.
The ICT expert stated this at the 4th Enugu Catholic Diocesan Synod held on Sunday in Enugu with the theme “Faith and Practice in Enugu Diocese: Opportunities and Challenges”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that first and second Synod of the diocese was held in April 1984 and October, 2021 respectively while the third one was held in September, 2013.
The fourth Synod which began on Nov. 16 with a Holy Mass celebrated by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, His Lordship, Callistus Onaga will end in Nov. 22.
Chibuzor, who is the Director of ICT, Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, added that the AI was not a threat to the Christian faith but assisted them to grow their faith.
Speaking on the topic “Social Media, Al, Technology And New Evangelism” Chibuzor urged priests to embrace AI, saying that it would help them in their research within a seconds and train youth if their teachings were online.
According to him, AI can never replace priests but aid them in their pastoral work, saying that Christians task is to use social media and Al responsibly to help the church in the work of evangelism.
The Auxiliary Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Ernest Obodo, added that AI would not replace priests due to the church’s Sacramental reality.
The bishop said that priests, being representatives of Christ in Holy Mass and sharing of love between God and man and others would always be physically present.
“The only exception to these was during the COVID-19 when some restrictions and conditions were given,” Obodo explained.
Also speaking, Bishop Onaga said issues of Social Media, AI, Catechesis, neo-paganism, youth empowerment and others, would be the top discussion for 4th Enugu Diocesan Synod.
The clergyman while acknowledging the blessings and accomplishments of the diocese both human and infrastructural since the last synod said Christianity were faced with tremendous challenges.
According to him, the challenges cut across the modern world where some are peculiar to the diocese and others more prevalent in the urban parishes as well as the rural parishes.
He listed the challenges to include, Catechesis, issue of social media, AI, youth employment, neo-paganism and others.
“Social media today is a big problem and artificial intelligence that some of us are using without knowing it is a big challenge to the issue of evangelism,” Onaga said.
He explained that synod was the gathering of members of the church to discuss concerned issues and make important decisions while the diocesan synod deliberated on issues that belonged to the pastoral care of the people in diocese.
“Initially, it was just a gathering of bishops under the presidency of the Pope which helps the church to move together in the same direction.
“We thank God that we are now gathered here for the opening ceremony of the fourth synod of our diocese, centered on faith and practice and we have enormous reason to thank God.
“Twelve years have passed since the last synod in 2013, new questions, challenges concerning our faith are bound. But that is not to say that we do not have enormous reasons to say thanks to God
“The diocese has three bishops and 531 priests as well as many religious institutions,” he said.
Speaking on Catechesis, the Catholic Bishop of Ekwulobia Diocese, His Eminence, Peter Cardinal Okparaeke, noted that many people lost hope in Christianity because they were scammed and exploited by prosperity preachers.
He pointed out that some prosperity minister lived in abundance as a proof of God’s Blessings while engaging in fake miracles to deceive others.
The bishop, however, emphasised the need to deepen those things that broaden christian faith, urging priests to tailor their homily the way it would have deep meaning in the lives of christians.
“Priest should till, manure and water the heart of people for it to bear abundant fruits and also the church should make way to teach Catechism to children occupied by school lessons,” he advised.
Earlier, the Chairman of Synod Planning Committee, Rev. Fr. Christian Anieke, said the synod was expected to unearthing fresh ways to strengthen and embody christian faith while protecting it from stupendous challenges.
“I therefore invite everyone to be part of the journey of renewal and growth in the Church. We hope that our guest speakers will propose solutions to the faith-related challenges, considering the specific responses from God’s people.
“It is also our prayer that all discussions during this synod will help participants clearly understand what will be presented and debated.