Have I committed a mortal sin by smoking cigarettes excessively due to fear?

[Holly3278]

Hey everyone. I have been smoking a lot lately in part due to my excessive fear about the storms we are going to have today. They are forecasting a possibility of strong long-track tornadoes and I am terrified as I have a paranoia about tornadoes. Anyway, I am also addicted to storms. Have I committed a mortal sin by smoking excessively or is my culpability reduced by my fear and addiction?

 

[Holly3278]

I found these two passages from the Catechism of the Catholic Church that concerns what I am asking here:

2290 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.

2291 The use of drugs inflicts very grave damage on human health and life. Their use, except on strictly therapeutic grounds, is a grave offense. Clandestine production of and trafficking in drugs are scandalous practices. They constitute direct co-operation in evil, since they encourage people to practices gravely contrary to the moral law.

Paragraph 2291 especially concerns me. Is this in reference to all drugs such as tobacco or just illegal drugs?

 

[JRKH]

In short, if you have to ask then it is unlikely that you have sinned mortally…

Remember “full knowledge” and “full consent of the will”.

Stop being so hard on yourself.

As to your fears and paranoia over severe weather…
Do you trust God?
Do you believe in eternal life?

If you believe in these things then what concern is there in such little things as Storms and Tornadoes. They are not a menace but rather are opportunities for us to examine and to affirm our trust in God.
Consider the Rich young man who came to Jesus affirming his belief and his commitment to doing all that the Law required. Yet when Jesus put his commitment to a test, the rich young man had trouble - He went away sad. Because his claimed faith was put to a test. Jesus gave him an opportunity to truly examine his commitment to God.
These tests come in many forms. In this case we substitute life and safety for riches and instead of being “sad” we substitute “anxious”.
Now - Look at what Jesus tells us about worry and anxiety:
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.
(Mt 6)
Now dear Holly -
I’m sure that you have already taken all prudent precautions in regards to these forecast storms. Having done that, I’m also sure that you have asked God to protect you. Now you need to take one more step. Give yourself over to Him and pray, as Jesus did, Not my will but thine be done”.
Now your body and your natural emotional mind will try to pull you into fear and even despair. You must overcome this with your faith and trust in the Almighty Lord God and King.

Practice this trust - pray your rosary and I’ll bet you don’t smoke so much.

I hope this helps you some.

Peace
James

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

Hey everyone. I have been smoking a lot lately in part due to my excessive fear about the storms we are going to have today. They are forecasting a possibility of strong long-track tornadoes and I am terrified as I have a paranoia about tornadoes. Anyway, I am also addicted to storms. Have I committed a mortal sin by smoking excessively or is my culpability reduced by my fear and addiction?

No mortal sin!

 

[kch86]

Paragraph 2291 especially concerns me. Is this in reference to all drugs such as tobacco or just illegal drugs?

Tobacco was mentioned in the previous paragraph. It is in the same category as food, alcohol and medicine. Its use is morally neutral, and it becomes excessive if you find yourself spending money that would otherwise be necessary for necessities such as food and shelter to sustain the habit.

I’m being entirely serious when I say that you were using tobacco for its medicinal, calming effect. And you were using as much of it as you needed to feel better. There’s no sin in that.

 

[asd72]

I had the same question Holly. From the information I have gathered so far it is not a mortal sin, but I guess immoderate use could be considered a fault or venerial sin which culpability is likely reduced in your case due to your anxiety/illness etc. It’s good to work towards abstinence or moderate use at some stage though as we strive towards perfection.

But also remember working at virtue is a process and we can overwhelm ourselves and make less progress sometimes by trying to tackle everything at once.

Be patient with yourself Holly and try to discuss these things with yr Priest who is able to advise you better than us.

 

[codefro]

Tobacco was mentioned in the previous paragraph. It is in the same category as food, alcohol and medicine. Its use is morally neutral, and it becomes excessive if you find yourself spending money that would otherwise be necessary for necessities such as food and shelter to sustain the habit.

I’m being entirely serious when I say that you were using tobacco for its medicinal, calming effect. And you were using as much of it as you needed to feel better. There’s no sin in that.

What if his question was for alcohol, and not cigarettes? Would that still have been ‘medicinal’? Not being cynical, but wondering.

 

[kch86]

What if his question was for alcohol, and not cigarettes? Would that still have been ‘medicinal’? Not being cynical, but wondering.

Of course. There’s nothing wrong with having a little whisky to relax in the evening after a stressful day. That would be using it for its medicinal, sedative, hypnotic and anxiolytic effects. You’ll find many old-fashioned remedies use alcohol not for its recreational effects but because it is a sedative, and to a lesser extent, a painkiller.

That said, recreational use of alcohol isn’t wrong either. Jesus didn’t turn water into wine at Cana to put everyone to sleep.

There are of course, very real dangers from using alcohol regularly and it can cause terrible harm when abused, but having a shot of spirits to help you calm down after you find out that someone you love has just been taken to hospital is certainly a legitimate use of alcohol and is equivalent to taking a benzodiazepine anxiolytic in that situation.