Politics

Catholic ethical frameworks push for human-centred AI standards amid industry challenges

Friday, 21 November 2025 10:28PM UTC

Experts gathering at a Catholic University conference call for AI development grounded in human dignity and accountability, emphasising faith-inspired ethical standards to counter societal harms and promote the common good.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming human life and work, raising profound ethical questions about the responsibilities of those who develop, market, and deploy these technologies. At a recent conference held at The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law, a diverse group of experts convened to explore the ethical frameworks that should guide Big Tech in the era of AI, emphasising a human-centred approach grounded in Catholic social teaching.

Taylor Black, director of AI & Venture Ecosystems in Microsoft’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer and founding director of Catholic University’s new interdisciplinary Institute for AI & Emerging Technologies, set the tone in his keynote. He urged attendees to shift conventional tech discussions from metrics like speed and scale to deeper questions: “What does this technology do to the human person? Who is harmed, who is helped, and who is left behind? What leads to human flourishing and the common good?” Black drew upon Catholic social teaching to highlight the inherent dignity of every human, a dignity that technology cannot confer or revoke. He called for shaping “the moral ecosystem in which technology is built,” urging collaborative frameworks for responsible AI development and broad accountability beyond mere legal compliance.

The conference panelists tackled pressing issues such as corporate accountability and the darker uses of technology. Danielle Bianculli Pinter, chief legal officer at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation Law Center, highlighted the paradox that while Big Tech corporate responsibility teams may have genuine concerns, they are often sidelined by executives. She pointed out the industry’s extensive self-protection via lobbying, regulatory avoidance, and near-blanket legal immunity, advocating instead for the implementation of liability to address this societal crisis.

Annick Febrey of the Better Trade Collective illustrated how technology facilitates forced labour by luring workers into deceptive job offers, resulting in millions trapped in exploitation. John Cotton Richmond, a former U.S. ambassador-at-large to combat trafficking, described technology itself as morally neutral, capable of serving good or ill depending on human intent. He lamented how human traffickers commodify people for illicit profit, often taking advantage of technological platforms.

The ethical conversation continued in a panel on corporate responsibility amid AI’s rapid evolution. Maryann Cusimano Love, chair of Catholic University’s Department of Politics and consultant to the Holy See Mission at the United Nations, noted that the Catholic Church has long engaged with industry on embedding ethics into AI systems. She referenced the “Rome Call for AI Ethics,” a Vatican-led initiative co-signed by Microsoft and IBM in 2020, which advocates transparency, inclusion, responsibility, impartiality, reliability, and security/privacy in AI development. This document, while a form of soft law, carries normative power that can influence future hard legal requirements.

Industry voices such as Paul Lekas from the Software & Information Industry Association stressed that consensus largely exists on AI ethics principles, but the challenge lies in their practical implementation, translating moral imperatives into concrete technical guardrails. Legal scholar Charles Duan emphasised the need to render these ethical considerations into forms that AI systems can operationalise, ensuring adherence in real-world applications. Challenges like balancing AI training on copyrighted materials with fair use principles were also discussed, reflecting the complexity of aligning innovation with legal and ethical norms.

The conference also featured a sobering personal testimony from Representative Brandon Guffey, whose son tragically died after falling victim to sexual extortion via social media, underscoring the urgent need for safeguarding users against online harms.

In the final panel focusing on sustainability and risk management, experts addressed the lag in regulation compared to fast-moving business dynamics. Environmental justice advocates reminded attendees that sustainability is now widely recognised as a material, rather than optional, business factor, despite political divisions. The environmental impact of data centres, massive facilities underpinning cloud and AI services, was identified as an underreported issue deserving greater scrutiny.

The conference exemplifies a holistic approach, blending faith-based ethics, legal insight, and technological expertise to forge pathways for AI that promote human dignity, accountability, and the common good. Catholic University’s new AI Institute, led by Taylor Black, aims to continue this interdisciplinary engagement, drawing upon fields as varied as engineering, philosophy, and theology to influence AI innovation responsibly.

The Rome Call for AI Ethics stands as a key international benchmark in this effort. Originally launched in 2020 with backing from the Vatican, Microsoft, IBM, and now including Cisco and other tech leaders, it underscores an ethical commitment to AI that serves humanity broadly, respects dignity, and resists exploitation or displacement of people purely for profit. Initiatives aligned with this vision seek to move beyond voluntary codes to embedding enforceable standards in AI development, reflecting a growing global imperative for ethical governance in an age of transformative technology.

📌 Reference Map:

^[1] (OSV News) - Paragraphs 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
^[2] (Catholic University Media Release) - Paragraphs 2, 13
^[3] (Catholic News Agency) - Paragraph 2
^[4] (AP News) - Paragraph 6
^[5] (IBM Newsroom) - Paragraph 14
^[6] (Academy for Life) - Paragraph 6
^[7] (Rome Call) - Paragraph 6

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.osvnews.com/catholic-law-conference-puts-spotlight-on-big-tech-ethics-in-the-era-of-ai/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.catholic.edu/info-for-the-media/media-releases/microsoft-ai-director-taylor-black-lead-ai-institute-catholic - Taylor Black, director of AI & Venture Ecosystems at Microsoft, has been appointed as the founding director of a new interdisciplinary Institute for AI & Emerging Technologies at The Catholic University of America. The institute aims to integrate faculty from various disciplines, including engineering, business, science, art, philosophy, and theology, to collaborate on AI research and innovation. Black holds degrees in philosophy, law, and classics, and has a background in web development and business consulting. He will continue his role at Microsoft while leading the institute. ([catholic.edu](https://www.catholic.edu/info-for-the-media/media-releases/microsoft-ai-director-taylor-black-lead-ai-institute-catholic?utm_source=openai))
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/266575 - The Catholic University of America has announced that Taylor Black, director of artificial intelligence at Microsoft, will lead a new institute on emerging technologies and AI at the Washington, D.C.-based university. Black serves as the director of AI and venture ecosystems in the Office of the Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft, designing and leading cross-company initiatives that integrate innovation, product development, and community engagement to foster the next generation of technologies. He will remain in the position but plans to travel regularly to CUA’s campus. ([catholicnewsagency.com](https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/266575?utm_source=openai))
https://apnews.com/article/79b279570b2e7a2d945c452852a19657 - Cisco Systems has joined Microsoft and IBM in pledging to ensure the ethical development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) through a Vatican-sponsored initiative known as the Rome Call. Cisco’s CEO, Chuck Robbins, signed the pledge, which underscores the importance of transparency, inclusion, responsibility, impartiality, and security in AI development. The initiative seeks to protect human dignity and promote the common good without discrimination. Initially unveiled in February 2020 and signed at a Vatican conference just before the COVID-19 lockdown, the initiative has gained support from universities, U.N. agencies, private firms, and NGOs. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/79b279570b2e7a2d945c452852a19657?utm_source=openai))
https://newsroom.ibm.com/2024-07-10-IBM-Recommits-to-the-Rome-Call-for-AI-Ethics-as-the-Vatican-Welcomes-Eastern-Religions-to-the-Pledge?sf194567520=1 - IBM has reaffirmed its commitment to the Rome Call for AI Ethics, a Vatican-sponsored initiative promoting ethical AI development. The event, 'AI Ethics for Peace: World Religions commit to the Rome Call,' welcomed Eastern religious leaders to the pledge. IBM has been a significant participant in the Rome Call, leading the Rome Call for AI Ethics Global University Summit in 2022 and co-founding the AI Alliance in December 2023. The alliance focuses on accelerating open-source innovation to improve trust in AI and responsibly maximize its benefits to people and society. ([newsroom.ibm.com](https://newsroom.ibm.com/2024-07-10-IBM-Recommits-to-the-Rome-Call-for-AI-Ethics-as-the-Vatican-Welcomes-Eastern-Religions-to-the-Pledge?sf194567520=1&utm_source=openai))
https://www.academyforlife.va/content/pav/en/events/previous-assemblies/intelligenza-artificiale.html - The Rome Call for AI Ethics is a document signed on February 28, 2020, in Rome, to promote an ethical approach to artificial intelligence. The signatories committed to developing AI that serves every person and humanity as a whole, respects human dignity, and does not aim solely at greater profit or the gradual replacement of people in the workplace. The principles outlined include transparency, inclusion, responsibility, impartiality, reliability, and security and privacy. ([academyforlife.va](https://www.academyforlife.va/content/pav/en/events/previous-assemblies/intelligenza-artificiale.html?utm_source=openai))
https://www.romecall.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/RomeCall_Paper_web.pdf - The Rome Call for AI Ethics is a document signed on February 28, 2020, in Rome, to promote an ethical approach to artificial intelligence. The signatories committed to developing AI that serves every person and humanity as a whole, respects human dignity, and does not aim solely at greater profit or the gradual replacement of people in the workplace. The principles outlined include transparency, inclusion, responsibility, impartiality, reliability, and security and privacy. ([romecall.org](https://www.romecall.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/RomeCall_Paper_web.pdf?utm_source=openai))

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative is fresh, reporting on a conference held on November 14, 2025, at The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law. No earlier publications of this specific event were found.

Quotes check

Score: 10

Notes: The direct quotes from Taylor Black and other panelists appear to be original, with no earlier matches found online.

Source reliability

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative originates from OSV News, a reputable Catholic news outlet. However, it is not as widely known as major news organisations like the BBC or Reuters.

Plausability check

Score: 9

Notes: The claims about the conference's discussions on AI ethics align with known initiatives like the Rome Call for AI Ethics, which has been endorsed by various religious and tech leaders. The involvement of Taylor Black, director of AI & Venture Ecosystems at Microsoft, adds credibility. However, the narrative's focus on specific panelists and their statements is not corroborated by other sources.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative reports on a recent conference at The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law, focusing on Big Tech ethics in the era of AI. While the event's occurrence and some details are plausible, the lack of corroboration from other reputable sources and the limited reach of OSV News warrant further verification. The involvement of known figures like Taylor Black adds credibility, but the absence of broader coverage suggests a need for caution.

Artificial Intelligence
Ethics
Catholic social teaching