An audience at the German-American Society in Omaha enjoys a Bishop & Brews panel discussion on Sept. 16. SUSAN SZALEWSKI
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Bishop & Brews panelists discuss AI at packed Omaha venue
September 17, 2026
Hungry for knowledge and thirsty for beer, a crowd packed the German-American Society in Omaha for a Sept. 16 Bishop & Brews talk, where people listened to Archbishop Michael G. McGovern and other panel members discuss artificial intelligence, particularly from a Catholic perspective.
The topic was “Human Dignity, AI and the Common Good.” Admission was free.
Between 225 and 250 people attended, filling even overflow seats, according to the Nebraska Catholic Conference (NCC), which organized the gathering.
“The event was a tremendous success,” said Tom Venzor, NCC executive director and moderator of the panel discussion. Other panel members included Jesuit Father Kevin FitzGerald, chair of the Department of Medical Humanities at Creighton University School of Medicine, and State Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue.
They talked about how to live with AI responsibly; the importance of safeguards for the rapidly growing technology; its history; the race to lead AI development; and the technology’s impact on the environment, the U.S. military, health care and more. They leaned heavily on Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, which addresses artificial intelligence and its moral implications.
“Archbishop McGovern, Sen. Sanders and Father FitzGerald did an amazing job breaking down the critical themes of Magnifica Humanitas in a way that everyday Catholics could understand,” Venzor said. “I’m confident this event will be a great catalyst for Catholics to be better equipped to discern artificial intelligence and its impact on the human person and human society.”
Two more Bishop & Brew discussions on AI were planned elsewhere in Nebraska. One is 7 o’clock this evening – Sept. 17 –with Bishop James D. Conley of the Diocese of Lincoln, at the Post, 2001 N St. in Lincoln.
Another will feature Bishop Joseph G. Hanefeld of the Diocese of Grand Island. That panel discussion is scheduled for Oct. 22. The venue has not yet been announced.
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