Is it ok to go to Cuba?

[foolishmortal]

It was taught to have nothing to do with Communists for how they treat the Church and how their more zealous members could speak poison into a Catholic’s ear–especially a less-than-zealous or informed Catholic. Going to such a country would support its evil government and that would be like joining the Masons or something.
The last Pope went to Cuba and Fidel seems to treat the Christians ok still now–seems. Is this just a P.R. show by an unchanged Communist since the revolution or is it safe for our souls and not scandalous to support his government with our tourism? Would going to Cuba promote an evil Communist government? Is it different now even if he does (and that’s if he does) treat Christians rightfully?
The Pope, I think I heard, said it’s ok to go there because it would help the poor people there. Even so, it is not an encyclical or anything and the wisdom of the pre-Vatican 2 Popes since Communism got on the Church’s blacklist may be the best. Some things never change.

What do you think?

 

[asquared]

I am trying to figure out how going to another country as a tourist, for business travel, a mission trip, or any other reason indicates support for its form of government, no matter what that may be. Please enlighten me.

 

[JamesD]

I believe it is still illegal to travel to Cuba if you are a US citizen. If so it is wrong to travel to Cuba (for US citizens without special permission).

Now if we are talking about say China that would be a different issue.
My gut tells me its OK to go. But I really haven’t given it a lot of thought.

Jim

 

[Gwyn]

Yes it is illegal for US citizen’s to go to Cuba.

Though I do not think that because it is a communist country, Catholics should not visit.

We however did go to Cuba, this year. Beautiful place. Nice, friendly people. We also took a 1 hour cab ride to make it for mass in a near by town ( closest Catholic church to our resort ) early Sunday morning, luckily we had arranged with the cabbie to wait for us and bring us back to the resort after mass. So it was a nice way to spend our Sunday morning.

Though we will not go there again. Because of the way we were hassled at the airport when we got there. We all have Canadian passports. However they picked up on the fact that DH is born in Pakistan and pulled him aside and had his baggage checked… (what were they expecting - he is travelling with wife and child), DS and I were allowed to go.

 

[foolishmortal]

Are not businesses in communist countries or any dictatorial countries required to pay a whole lot of their earnings to the government? That would be funding their government, right? I mean, some fund abortion, but abortion is not intrinsic to the government’s identity. Communism, at least at the state level, is evil, as I am told. I mean, property is all a luxury, I think. I don’t get the big whoop about having to have property as long as you have what materials you need to physically live and you have resources for your faith. The Apostles shared and religious that make vows of poverty still share everything. Communist countries tend to always have it out for Christianity–especially Catholicism. Isn’t that why the Church banned participation in their party as well as in the Masons.?