Mass on the Moon - Which Bishop?

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And what if bishops are made Cardinals ( could the Holy See exclude those not on the Earth) them from being Cardinals and what would be the situation when the time comes to elect a new Pope, and the Cardinals in colonies that would not be able to make it to the Vatican to elect the new Pope ( as they need to have a physical presence)?
The same as terrestrial cardinals – If you don’t arrive before the door is locked, you don’t get in. (I don’t recall details of recent conclaves, but historically it’s not like they wait for everyone to show, nor is everyone required to do so. A time is scheduled and: Boom!)
And this doesn’t include what would happen if the Earth, and the Vatican were hit by a massive asteroid and most life forms, including humans, would be eradicated. And since I don’t think that the Holy See has to be confined to the Vatican ( any issues, natural and man made can arise that could cause that ), and the Holy See is the Church, no matter where it is located right.
That is what the Avignon papacy would indicate. AFAIK the pope remained “the bishop of Rome” even while he resided elsewhere.
 
Why would the Church want to place the entire Moon under the spiritual jurisdiction of the US military archdiocese?
 
The Moon would likely be mission territory for a time… so the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples would be responsible. They may establish a Mission Sui Iuris, an Apostolic Prefecture, or even an Apostolic Vicariate. The ordinary of the mission jurisdiction would be commemorated at Mass.
 
But better watch out for the possibility of future anti-Popes as well. 😉
 
I For the US it would be the diocese where Cape Canaveral is located.
Houston, as home to Mission Control.

When the Eucharist was brought to the ISS, Houston-Galveston was the coordinating Archdiocese.


I would image any Mass on the Moon would flow under the same authority, or at least any ones headed by NASA.

If it was under a private venture, or via another country, it would fall under a diocese there.
 
Given that the US is currently about 20 trillion in debt, and the cost to establish a colony on the moon (or Mars) would likely far exceed that, it is a non problem.

Golly. I even managed that sentence without referring to the future debt as astronomical… 🤣
 
if you told the average Spainard in 1350 that there was a whole other continent across the sea, would he believe you? probably not. yet, here i sit.
crazier things have happened is all that i am saying
 
well, i agree. we are engaging in utopian catholic speculation here

my best guess would be that the future “bishop of the Moon”; unless he is astronaut qualified will’ve been safely ensconced here on Earth and will administer to his flock via telemetry
 
that would be a very accomplished man… most US astronauts are successful military pilots, and doing that in addition to being a strong enough theologian to become a bishop… wow haha
 
Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

roger that
 
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Until then, perhaps they would use the name of the bishop where the spacecraft was launched. For the US it would be the diocese where Cape Canaveral is located.
You are correct. I remember, actually, when the Bishop of Orlando, Florida, asserted precisely that to Blessed Paul VI. The bishop was evoking historical precedents relative to exploration.
 
@brian_custer I think the bishop would have to be where his people are. The sacraments are done in person, not through any other medium. If we were well enough established in space to have a diocese basedon the moon, the bishop would have to be a part of it.
 
that’s a tall order; a Bishop, an astronaut

again, not likely, but certainly not impossible

this person better be alive today (perhaps in catholic high school (?)) because the USA is going full steam ahead on the lunar colony
 
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