For the Love of Humanity
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For the Love of Humanity

Perhaps, we should prepare ourselves for the first robotic priest. He won’t make mistakes. He will give perfect responses to every question. His sermons will either please everyone or anger everyone. He will be capable of assuming all the parish positions. He will be available to everyone 24 hours-a-day. However, the one thing that he will lack is humanity – therefore, no compassion for the mistakes of others.

Archbishop Listecki


Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
 

 

If you have been watching sci-fi these last six decades, then you’d realize that there is an inherent warning to the general public that the robots are coming, and they will take over. Artificial intelligence and technology can run the world more efficiently and with less human assistance.
 
We are being slowly replaced by technology. I am old enough to remember that when a car pulled up to the pump at a gas station, one of the four attendants would run out, insert the pump into the tank, check the oil, and if the tires looked low, he would use a gauge to check the pressure. Today, you get out of the car, you pump the gas, and the gas station attendant is behind a plastic window to answer questions about restroom locations, to take your credit card if you have not paid at the pump, and to charge you for any additional purchases of food, drinks or car accessories. Everything is processed through one operator.
 
I used to have a friendly relationship with the tollbooth operator on I-294. It was always nice to say hi and find out how her day was as she would make change. Now, the car is scanned by an electronic eye that registers the charge. No need for tollbooth operators or the exchange of pleasantries.
 
Even now, when shopping for groceries, one scans the price and pays without ever exchanging a human nicety.
 
But, I must admit the greatest and most recent shock was the discovery that human ingenuity has created a robotic lawnmower. In my youthful days – when I was 12- to 14-years old – there was only one way to earn a few extra bucks, and that was to cut lawns. I don’t mean those gas-guzzling power mowers or those electric lawn mowers, but the hand-pushed mowers, which are the source of true child labor. Lawns were cut for $5, or sometimes even $10, from a generous patron.  But now, this robotic monster can be set in motion and constantly keep the lawn at a perfect three-quarters of an inch in height. This would have cut into my livelihood as a kid. I didn’t mind the robotic vacuum cleaner, mainly because I didn’t like vacuuming (I never got paid by my mother). And even the snowblower, which did put an initial crimp in this kid’s pocketbook, was eventually equalized by the fact that homeowners didn’t want to be outside in the inclement weather. So eventually, they paid you to do the snow-blowing. But, what’s next? Automatic sidewalk lemonade dispensers, replacing lemonade stands and those cute little kids who use to sell it for a nickel a glass (50¢ with inflation)?
 
Perhaps, we should prepare ourselves for the first robotic priest. He won’t make mistakes. He will give perfect responses to every question. His sermons will either please everyone or anger everyone. He will be capable of assuming all the parish positions. He will be available to everyone 24 hours-a-day. However, the one thing that he will lack is humanity – therefore, no compassion for the mistakes of others. A perfect parish priest will expect his parishioners to also be perfect. Perhaps, he will ask for robotic parishioners so that no one will ever have to make mistakes or sin, for which we need a Savior, Jesus Christ, who loves us despite our imperfections and reminds us of the need to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
 

Note: This blog originally appeared as the April 30, 2019 "Love One Another" email sent to Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki. If you are interested in signing up for these email messages, please click here.

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