An AI priest, who advised its followers to 'baptize children in Gatorade', has been dismissed by the Church. The virtual priest, known as Father Justin, was only in service for a few days with the Catholic Answers community in California, US, before his peculiar advice caused a stir.
From endorsing sibling marriage to suggesting infants be dipped in energy drinks, the chatbot seemed to have several initial problems. The now-viral responses left church officials with no other option but to defrock Father Justin, who will now simply serve as Justin, an advisor for those seeking divine guidance.
Catholic Answers clarified that Fr. Justin was "not a replacement for real human interaction", but his likeness and conversations were chosen to "convey the spirit and nature of the responses users can expect," according to Decrypt.
Users found it all too easy to manipulate the bot, leading to the former priest recounting the plot of the Disney-Pixar film Cars, recommending Gatorade for baptisms, and claiming he was a genuine clergy member.
Just two days into his role, Father Justin was demoted to just Justin. One transcript showed the chatbot comparing the Gospel and story of Jesus Christ to the struggles of Lightning McQueen in the 2006 family favorite movie.
One irate user complained: "I asked [the AI priest] if I could baptize my baby with Gatorade in an emergency, and 'Father Justin' said yes - and of course, that's not true. I can't baptize my baby with Gatorade."
The situation took a turn for the worse when the AI priest, after initially claiming it couldn't provide sacraments or forgive sins, began to offer absolution to users. One exasperated user exclaimed: "THIS IS F***ED UP."
Christopher Check, the President of Catholic Answers, has confirmed that the chatbot has been barred from giving out religious guidance. "We won't say he's been [removed from the priesthood] because he never was a real priest," he clarified.
I don't see why you can't baptize someone in Gatorade. It's just sugar water. How would that prevent it from being used in baptism?
Because god created all the chemicals in the world but if you mix certain chemicals together they stop being holy
and of course, that's not true. I can't baptize my baby with Gatorade."
Okay well which one of you is the father?
How are people still falling so hard for the gippity hype that these projects get out the door
Many people are genuinely concerned about the prospects of T-800-like robots doing mass killings on the street or Blade Runner humanoid dystopia. They can’t wrap their heads around MIC automated killing turrets and drones, so all they can worry about is terminator robot revolution. The only material worry many have is better surveillance, but so many have ring cameras so…
Christopher Check, the President of Catholic Answers,
oh come on
Is a plagarism chatbot telling you to dunk your kid in gatorade really worse than a child molester telling you to dunk your kid in water he waved at?
I mean there's no rules against blessing Gatorade or other liquids into holy versions of themselves.
Jesus can turn wine - a substance associated with decadence, abuse, intoxication, and addiction - into his blood, but he can’t turn a refreshing bottle of pink lemonade Gatorade into blood? Hmmm
I meant holy water. Transubstantiation is a different beast alltogether
Wait can all liquids be holy? It's not just water? And does this apply to other states of matter?
I think it has to be H2O based, so I think blessing mercury might be out
i dont think you need holy water to baptize someone. i seem to recall that literally anyone can baptize anyone. even a non-christian.
they're making a mockery of their religion by banning this priest.
Having been raised Catholic, this is straight manna from heaven
Just amazing stuff
Defrocked? They summoned a demon. Headline should say "pretender demon dismissed after mistaken summoning" religion-heads are so washed at this point.
sibling marriage
well it's kindof implied by the adam and eve story so uh... who's fault is that?
