A new papal encyclical on artificial intelligence is prompting fresh workplace tensions as employees raise religious objections to use of AI tools, according to a recent legal alert from U.S. law firm Stinson.
Pope Leo XIV's Magnifica Humanitas, released last month, warns that AI could deepen inequality and undermine the dignity of human labor. While the document does not instruct Catholics to avoid AI entirely, it urges that the technology be used responsibly and remain subordinate to human judgment.
The encyclical has already sparked concern among workers who say AI conflicts with their faith or moral principles, executives at the law firm wrote. Employers are now seeing more requests for exemptions from AI use — requests that may qualify as religious accommodation claims under Title VII. Legal experts note that an employee's belief need not align with official doctrine to be considered sincere, and employers should avoid denying accommodations solely because the encyclical does not prohibit AI.
Still, not all requests may be granted. Following the Supreme Court's Groff v. DeJoy decision, employers may reject accommodations only if they can show "substantial increased costs," such as safety risks, security issues, measurable productivity losses, or concrete impacts on customers or coworkers.
Beyond religious concerns, AI is also emerging as a labor relations flashpoint. Unions, including SAG‑AFTRA, have begun bargaining over AI‑related issues such as digital replicas and workplace automation. Even non‑union employees who collectively raise AI concerns may be protected under the National Labor Relations Act.
Stinson's alert to clients advises employers to review policies and train managers to recognize both religious accommodation requests and potential concerted activity as AI adoption accelerates.
Susan is an author with a long-time interest in religion and science. She currently edits Covalence, the Lutheran Alliance for Faith, Science and Technology’s online magazine. She has written articles in The Lutheran and the Zygon Center for Religion and Science newsletter. Susan is a board member for the Center for Advanced Study of Religion and Science, the supporting organization for the Zygon Center and the Zygon Journal. She also co-wrote Our Bodies Are Selves with Dr. Philip Hefner and Dr. Ann Pederson.
