TL;DR
Religious communities across the United States are being targeted by AI-generated impersonations of clergy that broadcast inflammatory messages and solicit donations. Father Mike Schmitz, a Catholic priest with a large YouTube audience, warned his followers after becoming a target of such scams.
What happened
In recent months, congregations around the United States have been exposed to AI-created videos and audio that mimic religious leaders. These deepfake depictions present pastors and priests delivering provocative sermons or directly asking members for money, in efforts that reporters say are intended to deceive and extract donations. One high-profile example involves Father Mike Schmitz, a Catholic priest and podcaster with over 1.2 million YouTube subscribers, who addressed his audience in November to alert them that some recordings purporting to be him were generated by artificial intelligence. The reporting highlights a pattern of digital impersonation aimed at faith communities. The story was reported by Kat Tenbarge for WIRED on January 5, 2026, which framed the incidents as part of a broader trend of AI misuse in social media and online communication.
Why it matters
- Erodes trust between religious leaders and their communities when members cannot easily verify messages.
- Creates new opportunities for financial fraud targeting congregations that often make donations based on personal trust.
- Demonstrates how realistic AI-generated media can be weaponized against civic and cultural institutions.
- Raises questions about platform responsibility and detection tools to stop impersonation at scale.
Key facts
- WIRED published reporting on this issue on January 5, 2026.
- Kat Tenbarge is the author of the WIRED piece that documented the phenomenon.
- Religious communities across the United States have received AI-generated depictions of their leaders.
- Impersonations have included incendiary sermons and direct solicitations for donations.
- Father Mike Schmitz, a Catholic priest and podcaster with more than 1.2 million YouTube subscribers, publicly warned his audience after being targeted.
- The coverage situates the incidents within broader concerns about AI, social media, and online impersonation.
What to watch next
- Whether social platforms or payment services roll out specific safeguards against AI-driven impersonation — not confirmed in the source.
- Whether religious organizations adopt verification protocols or public advisories for congregants — not confirmed in the source.
- Whether law enforcement or regulators announce investigations or new rules addressing deepfake impersonation of community leaders — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Deepfake: Synthetic audio or video that uses machine learning to convincingly mimic a real person's voice or appearance.
- AI-generated content: Text, images, audio, or video produced or altered by artificial intelligence systems rather than being recorded directly from real-world sources.
- Impersonation scam: A fraud tactic where an attacker pretends to be a trusted individual to deceive victims, often to obtain money or sensitive information.
- Congregation: A community of people who regularly gather for worship or religious services under the leadership of clergy.
- Homily: A sermon or religious talk, typically delivered by a clergy member during a worship service.
Reader FAQ
Who has been targeted by these AI impersonations?
Religious communities around the United States; Father Mike Schmitz was named as a high-profile target.
What do the fake recordings ask for or say?
Reported examples include inflammatory sermons and requests for donations made in the name of clergy.
Are there confirmed arrests or legal actions related to these scams?
not confirmed in the source
Have platforms implemented measures to block these impersonations?
not confirmed in the source
KAT TENBARGE CULTURE JAN 5, 2026 6:30 AM AI Deepfakes Are Impersonating Pastors to Try to Scam Their Congregations Religious communities around the US are getting hit with AI depictions…
Sources
- AI Deepfakes Are Impersonating Pastors to Try to Scam Their Congregations
- 'God Bless Them': How scammers posed as this church's …
- How Scammers Use AI and Cryptocurrency to Defraud …
- Deepfakes and AI: A Growing Threat to Churches
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