McCoy, an editorial consultant at The Tablet, says the depth of the priestly role is beyond mere preaching.

"To say that AI will replace priests suggests a very truncated, post-reformation and secularist view of what priests are and what they're for, implying that their fundamental role is preaching.

"The suggestion that AI could replace priests overlooks their sacramental role, not just in administering sacraments but being themselves a sacrament" McCoy stated.

UK Government report

It was a recent UK Government report that suggested this about AI. It sparked debates within the clergy community.

The UK's Department for Education's report "The Impact of AI on UK Jobs and Training" analysed the potential impact of AI systems on various job sectors.

On a list of 365 professions most susceptible to being replaced by AI algorithms, it positioned clergy at number 13.

The report assessed telephone salespeople as the most at risk, followed by solicitors and psychologists.

Clergy already using ChatGPT

However, there are already some real-world examples of AI clergy in action.

In June, 300 people attended an AI-powered church ceremony in Germany, with the sermon written by AI and delivered by computer-generated avatars on a screen.

Jonas Simmerlein, a theologian and philosopher at the University of Vienna, said about 98 percent of the sermon came from the chatbot's own writing.

Vicars and rabbis have readily admitted to using ChatGPT to help them write sermons.

Conversely, John McManus, head of media communications at Jesuits in Britain (a website), emphasised the irreplaceable human aspect of the priesthood.

"What strikes me is that there is no comparison between the spiritual services provided by a priest and what AI can replicate.

"Priests offer a face-to-face interaction that AI can't do. It's programmed.

"Human beings are not programmable creatures. They have souls.

"An AI programme can never hope to replace the spiritual services and empathy given by priests. Priesthood has a sacramental side."

Sources

The Tablet

The Telegraph

CathNews New Zealand

Ampleforth College is a £36,000-a-year Catholic boarding school. It claims to be "the world's foremost co-educational Catholic boarding and day school for students aged 11 to 18".

Scandal has surrounded the private school in recent years.

An independent inquiry into child sexual abuse published a highly critical report in August 2018. The report said: "appalling sexual abuse [was] inflicted over decades on children as young as seven".

The school was found to have "prioritised the monks and their own reputation over the protection of children".

Cuthbert Madden, the abbot of Ampleforth Abbey (which is attached to the school), stepped down from his post in 2016. His resignation followed allegations he indecently assaulted pupils. Madden has denied the claims.

In February 2020, former Ampleforth College monk Peter Turner, 80 was jailed for more than 20 years. He was found guilty of sexually abusing a number of students in the 1980′ and 90's.

The Department for Education (DfE) sent a letter to the North Yorkshire school's proprietor on Nov 27 as part of an enforcement action. In the letter Education Secretary Gavin Williamson told the school to stop accepting new pupils to "safeguard the education and well-being of children".

"The SoS [Secretary of State] also had regard to the fact that that the school is failing to meet the ISS [Independent School Standards], including standards relating to safeguarding and leadership and management, and in his view, these failings are considered to be very serious."

The letter did say the school had "some willingness" to improve since 2018 - including adding new leadership. But, Mr Williamson ruled the college's progress had been "too slow" and "insufficient".

Ampleforth has said it will appeal against the ruling because the order is "unjustified and based on incorrect information".

A spokesperson for the college said, "We will be appealing this on the basis that we believe it is unjustified and based on incorrect information."

"As far as we are concerned, we will continue to educate our students to the very high standards they are used to in a safe and supportive environment. We have lodged a complaint to Ofsted and await the outcome of that complaint."

In February 2020, former Ampleforth College monk Peter Turner, 80 - who continued to abuse young boys after confessing to having sexual contact with a pupil - was jailed for more than 20 years.

Sources

The Tablet

The Guardian

Sky