I found out from a coworker that his parish priest smokes cigarettes. I thought it was a sin to intentionaly inflict harm upon your body. Is he sinning and does that have an effect over his duties?
Moderate smoking is not a sin. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others’ safety on the road, at sea, or in the air
(CCC 2290).
So far as I know, priests are not forbidden to smoke. In fact, St. Peter Claver distributed tobacco to slaves to whom he ministered, Pope St. Pius X is believed to have smoked cigars, and the late Jean-Marie Cardinal Villot (1905-1979) has been reported to have been a chain smoker.
Disclaimer: Please note that the information about use of tobacco by the saints and a prominent churchman was not given in order to advocate for smoking but to answer the question of whether priests have been allowed by the Church to smoke.
Update: Forums participant Adam S writes: “It is known that as [Joseph] Cardinal Ratzinger, the present Pope [Benedict XVI] was very fond of Marlboro Reds! I’m not sure whether he has changed his brand to a corresponding colour following his election!”
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