No. It does not fulfill your obligation. Only assisting at Mass in a Catholic Rite fulfills the obligation.
I’m not sure about the Orthodox Church question but if a Catholic is travelling to a country where there is no Catholic Church and would be unable to attend Sunday Mass then a dispensation has to be obtained before travelling. A dispensation is not automatic.If a person is travelling in a country with really no Catholic churches around, for example, Russia, are they able to fulfill their Sunday obligation in an Orthodox church, without receiving the Sacraments though? Is there special permission needed for this or is this granted automatically?
thank you
Is a dispensation basically the priest stating you have permission to not attend mass due to extraordinary circumstances?
That’s not correct; Can. 1248 § 2 specifically speaks to occasions where “participation in the eucharistic celebration becomes impossible because of the absence of a sacred minister or for another grave cause,” and makes it clear that in such a case there is no obligation, but only a recommendation “that the faithful take part in a liturgy of the word if such a liturgy is celebrated in a parish church or other sacred place according to the prescripts of the diocesan bishop or that they devote themselves to prayer for a suitable time alone, as a family, or, as the occasion permits, in groups of families.”
There is no “grave cause” involved when someone is travelling on business or holiday. They have plenty of time to find out in advance if there is a Cathoic Church where they are going. If there is not then they ask their local priest for a dispensation.
I don’t understand why you would need to be dispensed from an obligation that is impossible to fulfill. An obligation doesn’t exist if it is impossible to fulfill it.
The Church requires that you fulfill the Sunday obligation (is also fulfilled by Saturday evening Mass). If you know you are travelling to a country where there is no Catholic Church you are deliberately not fulfilling your obligation by your decision to go there. It is your action that means you will not be able to fulfill the obligation and not the fact there is no Church there. You could go to a country where there is a Catholic Church.
Did the Catholic pioneers who settled here on the American frontier, or came to this country to work in the mines and mills, did they all get dispensations when they settled in towns without any priests available?
if you can’t get to Mass because there is no Catholic Church you have no obligation, so no formal dispensation is necessary. You can certainly attend an Orthodox church but are not so obligated. While the Catholic Church permits you to receive communion there, their own rules are much stricter and you would probably not be admitted to communion.
that is what a dispensation is, but you do not need one if you are simply unable to attend Mass because there is none.
We are not obliged under certain situations such as carrying for the sick or a child. Another is necessary work. If the traveler is going somewhere without Catholic churches for work, they are not willfully disregarding their obligation.
A dispensation can be automatic. If there is no possibility of fulfilling one’s obligation, then there is no obligation. The dispensation is supplied by law.
What’s “hard” is that you seem to be just making this up based on your own opinions, with no references or justification.
There is nothing here that says you need to go get a dispensation:
“Since a “grave cause” is needed to excuse one from this obligation it would be a serious or mortal sin to willfully skip Mass on Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation, as the Church has always taught. Reasons such as the necessity to work to support one’s family, child care, personal sickness or the care of the sick, necessary travel etc. would excuse a person on a particular occasions. Those who have continuing reason to be excused should consult their pastor.”
The key point is “willfully” skip.