They met top tech experts behind closed doors. Now these religious leaders are urging Congress to act.

U.S. Catholic bishops say they met with technology experts behind closed doors and are now pressing Congress for AI safeguards—especially for online child protection. The September 16 announcement followed a meeting of the bishops’ Administrative Committee with representatives from technology companies. Bishop Oscar Cantú of San Jose, chairman of a new AI task force, said about seven experts from four companies spoke with roughly 30 bishops for two and a half hours under Chatham House rules, limiting what he could disclose. More than a dozen bishops then visited Capitol Hill to urge legislation and oversight of government AI. The task force plans continued dialogue with developers, education for dioceses, and reporting to the Vatican’s AI commission.