No go Countries as a Catholic

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goyim

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What countries should Catholics probably avoid traveling to for long periods of time, because of an inability to fulfil our Sunday Obligation. Obviously, I know of countries like Saudi Arabia, North Korea and most parts of Mainland China to mention such a few.

But perhaps people have experiences traveling to certain countries and finding it extremely difficult to find a Catholic Church. (I like to travel, but it would be nice to know a bit more)
 
1ke said:
The Church doesn’t require you to avoid any countries.
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I’ m aware of this. But fulfilling my Sunday Obligation is required. If that is not possible, then I will not be so stupid to travel to Antactica on a 4 month expedition for mere pleasure for example. Unless of course I could have a priest with me. Its a prudential question. And Prudence tells me to avoid certain countries where my obligation and current politics may come in to conflict.
 
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goyim said:
I’ m aware of this. But fulfilling my Sunday Obligation is required. If that is not possible, then I will not be so stupid to travel to Antactica on a 4 month expedition for mere pleasure for example.
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Or you could ask for a dispensation in advance. Not a huge deal.
 
BoomBoomMancini said:
Or you could ask for a dispensation in advance. Not a huge deal.
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Dispensations are for exceptional circumstances. “Wanting to have fun on holiday” is not a prudent reason to ask for such a dispensation. There’s no neccesity for me to travel. Therefore a dispensation shouldnt be given and I wont ask for one.
 
goyim said:
But fulfilling my Sunday Obligation is required
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Not when there is no mass to attend. The obligation is a positive law.

We are not expected to do what isn’t possible.
goyim said:
If that is not possible, then I will not be so stupid to travel to Antactica on a 4 month expedition for mere pleasure for example
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There is no requirement of the Church that you avoid a trip to Antarctica. It is not “stupid” to go on a trip, even if there is no mass. As I just explained, we are not required to do the impossible. There is no obligation if there is no mass available.
goyim said:
And Prudence tells me to avoid certain countries where my obligation and current politics may come in to conflict.
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That’s your choice. But don’t impose it on others because the church does not.
 
goyim said:
Dispensations are for exceptional circumstances. “Wanting to have fun on holiday” is not a prudent reason to ask for such a dispensation.
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That’s your opinion, and again don’t try to impose it on others as this simply is NOT Church teaching.
 
goyim said:
Dispensations are for exceptional circumstances. “Wanting to have fun on holiday” is not a prudent reason to ask for such a dispensation. There’s no neccesity for me to travel. Therefore a dispensation shouldnt be given and I wont ask for one.
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Ok, that’s fine. That determination is really for the traveler’s pastor to make, but you seem set on this, so you do you.
 
1ke said:
You don’t actually need a dispensation beforehand.
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I’m not much of an authority on this, but forgive me for thinking that something that is a Mortal Sin in some cases, can be negated so easily. With an earnest heart, I dont see how such a thing goes over so easy.
 
goyim said:
Yes, this is my choice, which is why I ask the question of where I might best avoid.
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That is not what you asked. You asked about countries that CATHOLICS should avoid. The answer is: none.

You didn’t say, “I’ve decided I don’t want to ever travel to places where I cannot go to mass so what are places I should avoid?”
 
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1ke said:
You asked about countries that CATHOLICS should avoid
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I asked this in this way because, (Unless for some extraordinary circumstances) Fulfilling your Sunday Obligation is a grave obligation. So yes it might not be so ‘stupid’ to travel. And you are not expected to do the impossible. But it seems so glaringly obvious that travelling isnt a neccesity and it’s completely within the faculties of the individual to just not put themselves in such a situation, to do the opposite, seems so very imprudent.

Forgive me if I’m not understanding you correctly. Perhaps I’m at fault here.
 
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I think it’s true that most serious Catholics would not wish to travel for too long and not be able to go to a Sunday mass, but it a personal decision for them to make.

Maybe the topic should just be what countries exist that one can’t really get to mass on Sundays? That seems like a better question if I understand that to be the information you are looking for.
 
Perhaps so, think I also shoud give time to reading Dies Domini again, by Pope Saint John Paul 2nd aswell.
 
goyim said:
But it seems so glaringly obvious that travelling isnt a neccesity and it’s completely within the faculties of the individual to just not put themselves in such a situation, to do the opposite, seems so very imprudent.
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The Church doesn’t ask this of us. The obligation is what is called a human positive law, and it does admit exceptions, travel among them.

We aren’t required to avoid traveling. Even for pleasure.

I would encourage you to talk to your pastor about your concerns.

Or perhaps later today or tomorrow @edward_george1 will join the conversation. He is a priest.
 
My parish priest has said the same thing that 1ke is saying

I think it can probably be found in Canon Law, but I’m not certain. If one is travelling to a place where the sacraments are not available, there is not an obligation to go to mass.
 
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1ke said:
We aren’t required to avoid traveling.
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Ok, so now I see where you’re coming from. Where though is this to be found? On this question I am using Dies Domini, Articles 46 to 49. Perhaps also drawing from cultural experience from a country where Catholics were once persecuted heavily for celebrating mass, yet still did so in Secret on Sundays. This historical bias is definetely going to effect the way I think.
 
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