AI Data Centers: Impacts on Our Communities and on the Earth

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Bending the Arc references a quote by Rev. Dr. King who said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” This digital newsletter from the CSA Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation office showcases the work of changemakers, opportunities to learn, and opportunities for you to help “bend the arc” toward justice. Full contents of the newsletter are published on this page.
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AI Data Centers: Impacts on Our Communities and on the Earth

October 08, 2026

By Tracy Abler, Justice Coordinator

Interested in learning more about artificial intelligence and its impact on our communities and our common home? As AI continues to shape our world, important questions are emerging about its social, ethical, environmental, and spiritual implications. Pope Leo’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, invites us to consider these questions through a Christian lens.

Join the CSSJ Community October 20, 2026 at 6:00 pm CT for an event co-sponsored by the U.S. Federation and the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia featuring Nicholas Collura, DMin who serves as the program director of Radius and as a chaplain in the Office of Religious, Spiritual, and Ethical Life at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He co-founded and co-facilitated a community-based climate organizing initiative in the Philadelphia area.

Dr. Collura will provide a basic framework for how artificial intelligence data centers operate and an ethical and spiritual lens for considering the impacts of these operations on our communities and the Earth. His talk will be followed by a Q&A during this 60 minute session.

Those who register for the recording will receive a link to a recording of the presentation. Questions? Email Bwelch@cssjfed.org

Tags: learning

Posted in Cosmology & Creation