Reader Poll — Attending Mass When Camping …

… Reader poll at bottom of post.

Am I completely off base to expect a Boy Scout Troop, affiliated with and sponsored by a Catholic Church and made up predominately of Catholic boys and leaders, to plan mass attendance into camping trips?

My feelings are, as a Catholic troop, the boys should automatically include going to mass in the itinerary when they plan these trips.

Photo Source

Take for example this past weekend.

They could have very easily planned Saturday vigil mass or early Sunday morning mass with little interruption to their plans. Two, count ’em two, Catholic Churches were on either side of the state park where they were camped. Each one a total of six miles away.

I can totally understand if they are camping in the middle of nowhere, on top of a mountain, and had to hike 10 miles to the camp site – which they have in the past.

But on weekends where they are pretty much car camping at a state park… c’mon.

As a Catholic parent it’s my duty to instill in my son the importance and obligation of mass attendance. If I can make time for he and I to attend mass when we’re on vacation is it unreasonable for me to expect his troop to do the same?

Also… I believe in oaths and obligations.

Scout Oath

On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.

Scout Law

A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly,
courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty,
brave, clean, and reverent.

I mean really? What’s the point of having the boys earn the Ad Altare Dei medal if we can’t even teach them the significance of regular mass attendance… even when it’s slightly inconvenient?

So what do you think? I am off base here or not?

Discuss.

Now I have to wonder if the next Troop outing will be group confession… cause mortal sin.