Edition of Friday, September 18

Archbishop Christophe Z. El-Kassis told the United Nations on Sept. 17 that hate speech is not protected by freedom of expression. Speaking at the Global Conference on Promoting Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue and Tolerance in Countering Hate Speech in New York, the archbishop, who is the new permanent observer of the Holy See to the UN, said speech that deliberately incites hatred or violence cannot claim the protection of liberty.

The archbishop, who is also an apostolic nuncio, stated that hate speech contradicts the commandment to love one's neighbor. He noted that such rhetoric poisons public discourse, increases division, and often prepares the ground for violence and persecution. He added that these harms occur regardless of whether the speech targets individuals or communities based on religion, ethnicity, nationality, or other characteristics.

While El-Kassis described freedom of expression as a fundamental right that must be protected, he emphasized that this freedom carries corresponding responsibilities. He argued that inciting speech erodes the conditions necessary for genuine freedom to flourish. The conference was sponsored by the UN Alliance of Civilizations.

Bishop Oscar Cantú of San Jose, California, will lead a new task force on artificial intelligence for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. The group was created to implement the vision of Pope Leo XIV's encyclical on AI, Magnifica Humanitas.

Bishop Cantú said the task force intends to listen, teach, and remind the public that technology should support human dignity, families, and healthy societies. He noted that the group aims to hold technology companies and politicians accountable by bringing the voices of parishioners, workers, parents, and students into the public square.

The bishop encouraged the faithful to use online resources from the USCCB to learn about AI and to speak up about its use. He noted that because the technology affects everyone, raising concerns helps place pressure on those in power to act correctly.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, called for international cooperation to establish common rules for governing artificial intelligence. Speaking on the sidelines of the "Faith and Reason in the Age of Artificial Intelligence" conference at the Italian Parliament in Rome on Sept. 16, Parolin expressed concern that some countries may attempt to regulate the technology independently rather than through a unified global approach.

Parolin noted that because artificial intelligence is a global phenomenon, it requires the participation of all nations and supranational organizations. He expressed support for a recent appeal by Italian President Sergio Mattarella regarding the responsibility of states to govern new technologies. While Parolin stated the Holy See's role is to present guiding principles rather than immediate technical solutions, he urged people to reflect seriously on the potential consequences and risks of using AI.

Addressing the ethics of the technology, Parolin told journalists that he does not use AI to draft his homilies, suggesting the technology lacks human emotion. This stance follows previous warnings from Pope Leo XIV, who advised priests against using artificial intelligence for drafting homilies during a meeting with priests from the Diocese of Rome in February.

Pope Leo XIV released a book of his homilies and writings on Sept. 15. The English-language collection, titled “Freedom Under Grace: Reflections on the Spiritual Tradition That Formed Me,” features works written during his time as prior general of the Order of St. Augustine from 2001 to 2013.

The book includes reflections on prayer, the interior life, the search for God, leadership, education, evangelization, and social justice. It contains homilies delivered in several countries, including Nigeria, Australia, Ireland, Spain, and the United States.

Father Joseph L. Farrell, the current prior general of the Augustinians, wrote the foreword to the book. He noted that unity is the most prominent theme in the writings, appearing in various forms such as the communion of the faithful and the need for fraternity among members of the order.

The White House released a list titled President Trump’s Top 250 Victories For People of Faith to highlight administration accomplishments regarding various religious communities. The list spans 25 categories, including the protection of religious liberty, defending houses of worship, securing conscience rights, expanding school choice, upholding parental rights, restoring biological truth, and defending life.

Jenny Korn, the White House Faith Office Director, stated in an interview with EWTN News that the office operates within the West Wing as a direct report to the president to manage policy affecting religious institutions and people of faith. Korn noted that recent actions include guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice directing federal agencies to protect religious liberty in all programs and practices. This guidance includes removing restrictions that previously prevented federally funded faith-based organizations from including prayer or religious elements in their programs.