Priests and Smoking

[Charlotte408]

To be intoxicated to the point of not being able to control your actions is a sin, it does not matter if that intoxication comes from wine or vodka or marijuana or mushrooms or the valium your doctor perscribed. As long as these things are used in MODERATION, there is no sin.

OK im sorry…i know were going in circles…and the final verdict so far is that SMOKING is NOT a SIN. But WHY? WHY isnt it?? consider the above quote, we all agree this is true, correct?

one drink= not a sin
alcoholic=sinner (abusing the alcohol, becoming addicted, not used in moderation)

so likewise…

one cigarette= not a sin
smoker=??? Why the difference? An addiction is an addiction…thats temptation in its thickest form is it not?

Weve already established that smoking IS permitted and is NOT considered a sin…but why?? it just doesnt seem logical to me when you add it up…especially considering how lethal they are…

 

[Murray1105]

OK im sorry…i know were going in circles…and the final verdict so far is that SMOKING is NOT a SIN. But WHY? WHY isnt it?? consider the above quote, we all agree this is true, correct?

one drink= not a sin
alcoholic=sinner (abusing the alcohol, becoming addicted, not used in moderation)

so likewise…

one cigarette= not a sin
smoker=??? Why the difference? An addiction is an addiction…thats temptation in its thickest form is it not?

Weve already established that smoking IS permitted and is NOT considered a sin…but why?? it just doesnt seem logical to me when you add it up…especially considering how lethal they are…

I am with you 100%, it is what the church teaches. the only reason to not agree is that its inconvienent like contraception, the church forbids it and says it is a sin ,but very few of us catholics listen. Most say “I disagree, contraception is not a sin” but the fact is that it is a sin. Sin is sin no matter how we look at it. Thank you to all those who abide by the churchs teaching and still love, respect, and welcome the sinner. Just because you do something sinful, it in no way lessens your value. God loves you just as much and so should we. To not acknowledge sin is to fail Jesus. Without accepting that something is sin there can be no growth. If I dont take care of my car and I say its fine when things start to go wrong I can’t fix it, if I dont except that its wrong.

 

[Charlotte408]

like contraception, the church forbids it and says it is a sin ,but very few of us catholics listen. Most say “I disagree, contraception is not a sin” but the fact is that it is a sin.

lol…but isnt this backwards??

church says contraception is a sin (and it absolutely is)
its convenient to obtain…so…some people take it anyways and just disagree with the church…
but they are still sinners…we love them, but they’re in the wrong…

church says smoking is ok…
we know its an addiction, we know its wrong…but its easy to obtain so…just let them smoke
but they are still sinners…we love them, but they’re not wrong because in this case the church said its ok…

point being church should not condone smoking…just because its easy to get, or convenient, much like contraception…does not make it any less of an addiction, therefore any less of a sin than any other drug.



but yah no i totally love priests…havent come across a smoking one yet, not sure if i’d wanna get into confessional with one! lol…but…much love to the priests fer sure!!

 

[Tosk]

Considering how addictive and dangerous smoking cigarettes is how do you smoke them in moderation?? I can see occasionally enjoying a cigar, pipe, or cigarette when you drink but I don’t see how one can smoke cigarettes in moderation.

 

[Charlotte408]

Considering how addictive and dangerous smoking cigarettes is how do you smoke them in moderation?? I can see occasionally enjoying a cigar, pipe, or cigarette when you drink but I don’t see how one can smoke cigarettes in moderation.

Trust me you can enjoy them in moderation. lol…I have NEVER been a smoker…but…anyone who’s been a social drinker knows how easy it can be to have an ‘occasional’ smoke…

 

[Charlotte408]

aaaaaaaaaand with that thought imma go brush my teeth…

 

[Mickey_Finn]

Maybe smoking helps him deal with celibacy. I know a fair number of priests who turned to the bottle over that issue, so next to that smoking, as harmful as it can be, doesn’t seem so bad. What’s next for those parishoners: tsk-tsking over a priest having a car that seems too “sporty” and “un-priest-like?” I’ve known folks like that too.

I’ve never found drinking to help in the celibacy department. But maybe I did it wrong. I also don’t see why someone would care what the protestants think about us. As for someone leaving a parish because the priest smokes… Well if they want to leave they’ll find a reason to. So long.
If he’s a good priest, treat him with the respect he deserves. If years down the road you hear he’s in the hospital for a smoking related illness. Go visit him and remind him what a fine priest he was.

Good priest need our love not our criticism.

 

[stringbeanduck]

Weve already established that smoking IS permitted and is NOT considered a sin…but why?? it just doesnt seem logical to me when you add it up…especially considering how lethal they are…

Well see the problem here is that most people are ignorant to the fact that modern day commercial cigs are only 50% filled with tobacco. The rest is paper, stems, reconstituted tobacco, real tobacco(although treated with chemicals), sugar, licorice, cocoa, Ammonia, arsenic, acetone, formaldehyde, and several other lesser known chemicals. The tobacco that goes into cigs is often flue cured too, this process creates more nitrosamines which are very harmful carcinogens. Now when I cure tobacco, I ferment it which uses more natural enzymes in the leaf. True any form of curing does increase as well as decrease certain carcinogens, fermenting is much less harmful. There is a difference between tobacco and modern day cigarettes. BTW the church only approves tobacco use, never said anything about smoking 50% tobacco and the other ingrediants/chemicals I said above. :twocents:

 

[Charlotte408]

I think too many people are reading TOO much into this thread. The point of it is NOT TO CRITIZE ANY PRIEST. No ones saying if a priest smokes, one shouldnt go to their church, or they should be asked to leave- or ANYTHING like that…ok…so if your on one of those trips you can quit.

I wont repeat myself anymore on how much I value and appreciate priests, you can take the effort to read back…I just wanted clarification on WHY its ok to smoke cigarettes as opposed to other addictive substances…simple…right there…still no ones answered it with a simple…plain, black and white answer…lol…lets not get distracted because were talking about priests. It could just as well be a laymen or anybody for that matter…

 

[Feanor2]

That’s just nasty. I pray this priest stops. I hope he doesn’t do it in his vestments. . .

 

[dashso40]

Good priest need our love not our criticism.

 

[Mickey_Finn]

I think too many people are reading TOO much into this thread. The point of it is NOT TO CRITIZE ANY PRIEST. No ones saying if a priest smokes, one shouldnt go to their church, or they should be asked to leave- or ANYTHING like that…ok…so if your on one of those trips you can quit.

I wont repeat myself anymore on how much I value and appreciate priests, you can take the effort to read back…I just wanted clarification on WHY its ok to smoke cigarettes as opposed to other addictive substances…simple…right there…still no ones answered it with a simple…plain, black and white answer…lol…lets not get distracted because were talking about priests. It could just as well be a laymen or anybody for that matter…

Huh? These are the points brought up by the original poster. There was a priest who smoked. Somepeople were upset by this. The O.P. asked for advice.

 

[kage_ar]

I wont repeat myself anymore on how much I value and appreciate priests, you can take the effort to read back…I just wanted clarification on WHY its ok to smoke cigarettes as opposed to other addictive substances…simple…right there…still no ones answered it with a simple…plain, black and white answer…lol…lets not get distracted because were talking about priests. It could just as well be a laymen or anybody for that matter…

Ingesting any substance by inhaling the smoke that is produced when that substance is burned is not in and of itself a sin.

You are most likely talking about marijuana. Inhaling marijuana smoke is not in and of itself a sin. It IS a crime in most places, so, one would not do it because it is against the law. Should you be in Amsterdam where it is legal, and you wanted to smoke some marijuana and you do it in moderation - there is not a sin in that. Just like wine or food…drinking wine is not a sin - getting sidewalk licking drunk is a sin… eating a nice meal is not a sin, gorging yourself is a sin.

 

[Tosk]

Ingesting any substance by inhaling the smoke that is produced when that substance is burned is not in and of itself a sin.

You are most likely talking about marijuana. Inhaling marijuana smoke is not in and of itself a sin. It IS a crime in most places, so, one would not do it because it is against the law. Should you be in Amsterdam where it is legal, and you wanted to smoke some marijuana and you do it in moderation - there is not a sin in that. Just like wine or food…drinking wine is not a sin - getting sidewalk licking drunk is a sin… eating a nice meal is not a sin, gorging yourself is a sin.

I think that charlotte understands all that. The question is, how do you take a deadly and addictive chemical in your body, something that is slowly but surely killing you, in moderation?

We are not talking about moderate tobacco use once in a blue moon here we are talking about the way that most cigarette smokers smoke, which is about a pack a day. How do you do that in moderation?

Maybe smoking is something that is only venially sinful because it kills you really slowly. something similar to a really unhealthy diet.

Personally, I have a hard time seeing how cigarette smoking is anything other than a grave matter and possibly a mortal sin. That is the whole reason I chose to quit the habit.

 

[kage_ar]

There are enough chemicals and poisions in our food, air and drinking water - if you choose not to smoke, that is good. If you choose to only eat organic local food, that is good. It is still NOT sinful to smoke a marlboro or eat a big mac - if done in moderation. What is moderation? That is between a person and their confessor.

 

[Charlotte408]

Huh? These are the points brought up by the original poster. There was a priest who smoked. Somepeople were upset by this. The O.P. asked for advice.

lol!! i am sooo sorry!! i have another thread of my own on the same subject!! i must have gotten them confused!! lmbo…im so sorry!!..

 

[JMJ_coder]

And addiction lessens the moral culpability of the individual who is addicted as their ability to consent is compromised.

But no one has proved that smoking is a sin. I know people who only smoke when they are driving a long distance or when they are at the bar for a night out.

Are they “addicted” or are they “sinning”?

Yes, but not totally. And also there was a time without addiction when they were fully culpable.

And addiction is a sickness – whether you view it as a spiritual or physical sickness (I tend to view it more as the former). If you wouldn’t think a person with lung cancer is good to go and should be left to enjoy the cancer – why would anyone think for a second to leave a person with an addiction in that wretched state?

 

[JMJ_coder]

Please, post the Catechism citation, official declaration of the Church or Scripture that says smoking is a sin. Until you can find that, smoking is just like that cheeseburger or bottle of wine or video game or sexual intercourse - morally neutral.

Respect for health

2288 Life and physical health are precious gifts entrusted to us by God.
We must take reasonable care of them, taking into account the needs of others and the common good.
Concern for the health of its citizens requires that society help in the attainment of living-conditions that allow them to grow and reach maturity: food and clothing, housing, health care, basic education, employment, and social assistance.

2289 If morality requires respect for the life of the body, it does not make it an absolute value.
It rejects a neo-pagan notion that tends to promote the cult of the body, to sacrifice everything for it’s sake, to idolize physical perfection and success at sports.
By its selective preference of the strong over the weak, such a conception can lead to the perversion of human relationships.

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.

Now it speaks of (and a lot of people here have mentioned) the need for moderate use. How much smoking is “moderate” and not abusive?

Is the smoking or chewing of tobacco not an ab-use of the tobacco plant?

There is also the element that when you smoke, you are forcing those around you to partake of that smoke. Why should your will to smoke be more important than another’s will to completely refrain from smoke (maybe they have asthma?)?

 

[BernadetteM]

I just have a few comments on this subject which I feel is not relevant to whether we are living a Christian life. People sin all the time and whether smoking or drinking is a sin that is defined in specific terms by the Church, which does not appear to be the case. I find little charity in the responses on this post. As our Lord said Charity/Love is the most important of all the Commandments. I don’t deny that abusing our bodies can be a sin, but the Bible says do all these in moderation. Has the OP asked the priest if he smokes in moderation, this is what the Church says about smoking, drinking, eating etc. The key word is moderation. If by some chance you are not addicted to anything, thank God. Alcoholism is proven to be a disease, do you condemn others with cancer, diabetes or other diseases? Many people who are ill don’t take care of themselves. Addictions are the hardest ones to overcome. Also there is mental illness that causes these poor individuals to do harmful things to themselves and sometimes others. I guess I just don’t understand why people are so judgemental and uncaring for others. Going up to someone and preaching to them about what you consider sinful is not HELPFUL. If your really concerned about another’s lifestyle because you see that it is causing them harm try to be loving and do all you can to help the person.

My comment is the Church has now added, I think 7 more sins. The one I bring up is no one is to have excessive wealth.

I hope that none of the posters here have too much wealth or they are sinning. Hopefully none of you are trying to obtain wealth.

I also would assume that none of you are overweight or go over the speed limit while driving as that is very dangerous to yourself and others.

I feel sorry for anyone who does not fit into all of your opinions and judgements of others. From the attitude I perceive on this subject it appears you all are sinless. At least that is the way the posts come across. Hopefully your mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and children are all as blameless as you all appear to be. Have any of you sinless folk looked into the lives of those you are accusing of sin to see the inner soul by asking them if everything is okay in their lives and if not what you can do to help them?

I am sure that my post will bring out more uncharitable responses.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

 

[StrawberryJam]

I’d go to Mass at this priest’s parish. He isn’t hiding it from anyone, and I think that is honest. Honest priests must be good ones.