Newman Guide Magazine Spotlights New Benedictine College, Kansas, AI Center

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A recent article by the Cardinal Newman Society, which publishes the Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College, spotlighted Benedictine College’s new Center for Technology for Human Dignity promoting Catholic digital and biomedical ethics. An excerpt follows.

Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., recently launched a new Center for Technology and Human Dignity in response to Pope Leo XIV’s call to address the rise of artificial intelligence.

“The Center offers a Catholic lens through which to evaluate emerging technologies,” explained Dr. Mariele Courtois, the Center’s director.

“Our Catholic college is able to engage the unique resources of its faculty, staff, and programs to draw from the insights and rigor of various disciplines—from computer science, to engineering, to philosophy and theology—to grapple with how to direct technology to ethical practices while also determining when to limit technology use in light of higher goals for human life, namely to care for our relationships with God and other people,” Courtois said.

While educating students about artificial intelligence, Benedictine College is also helping students foster a healthy relationship with technology.

“Benedictine College values authentic human experiences: meaningful relationships, commitment to service, a pursuit of excellence, and a heart that seeks to love like Christ,” Courtois said. “These values help to form consciences and avoid distractions and manipulations from technology that can interfere with living one’s vocation.”