Smokeless tobacco a sin?

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dog_lover90

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I was wondering if spit-free, smokeless tobacco is a sin or not (www.camelsnus.com). I used to use it, then quit, and have been craving it lately, and even the times that I’m not craving it, it still sounds really good. Through prayer, I have been able to resist the urge to buy some. The reason I hesitate is because I am not sure if it is a sin or not. (I am aware of the health risks, please don’t lecture me on that). Does the Bible and/or Catechism mention this anywhere?

I am not Catholic yet, but I am going to convert. I’m starting RCIA in the fall.

Thank you for the help, and God bless you!
 
Here is what the Catechism says:

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. (1809)
 
No way.

This is one of those things Chesterton called “the simple pleasures of the common man,” the prohibition of which was the reason for progressives to exist.

Chew away, if you accept the health risks.
 
Boulder257 said:
Here is what the Catechism says:

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. (1809)
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So, a question, if I were to attempt to set the land-speed record, simply in an effort to see if I can, do you think that would classify as a grave matter? Or is it only when you’re being reckless about it?
 
The simple answer is that anything you do to your body with the knowledge that it will cause harm is sinful. Ingesting carcinogenic substances whether by smoking or chewing is proven to cause bodily harm and therefore would be intentional and sinful. Setting world records after taking all prudent safety precautions is not assumed to cause bodily harm otherwise it would be suicidal.
 
Bob_Aliano said:
Setting world records after taking all prudent safety precautions is not assumed to cause bodily harm otherwise it would be suicidal.
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That’s kind of my thinking as well. It’s not the speed that’s sinful, it’s being reckless.
 
Smokeless tobacco has been directly connected to oral cancer, intentionally using it would be breaking the law of the catechism. You have already quit using, your nicotine addiction is over and now the interest is from the psychological addiction. There is a group here for addictions, maybe you could find some support and help there. God bless you.
 
Bob_Aliano said:
The simple answer is that anything you do to your body with the knowledge that it will cause harm is sinful. Ingesting carcinogenic substances whether by smoking or chewing is proven to cause bodily harm and therefore would be intentional and sinful.
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mountee said:
Smokeless tobacco has been directly connected to oral cancer, intentionally using it would be breaking the law of the catechism.
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Where did you guys come up with this?

My Baltimore Catechism doesn’t mention tabacco use.
 
Sometimes I think that people here on CAF invent or exaggerate rules to make the rest of us feel inferior. I was a heavy smoker for over 40 years because I became addicted before the public were made aware that smoking is harmful. Thanks to ecigs, I have been smoke-free for months. If something caused me to take up smoking again I wouldn’t consider it a sin - not even a venial sin, and it would take a personal communication from Pope Francis to me to convince me otherwise.
 
Mariem2 said:
Sometimes I think that people here on CAF invent or exaggerate rules to make the rest of us feel inferior. I was a heavy smoker for over 40 years because I became addicted before the public were made aware that smoking is harmful. Thanks to ecigs, I have been smoke-free for months. If something caused me to take up smoking again I wouldn’t consider it a sin - not even a venial sin, and it would take a personal communication from Pope Francis to me to convince me otherwise.
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I would settle for an encyclical but I take your point. I fear the smoking=sin argument is an extrapolation gone too far.
 
I know several priests, including a cardinal, who are heavy smokers.
 
I enjoy The Macallan (single malt scotch) and fine cigars, neither to any excess. I do not feel like a sinner.
 
If smoking is a habit or addition, it may be sinful. But if done in moderation. Not so. I have some friends who smoke a cigar one or two times a year. I doubt that this would promote a bodily sickness any more than an occasional Easter Egg.
 
Evan said:
If smoking is a habit or addition, it may be sinful. But if done in moderation. Not so. I have some friends who smoke a cigar one or two times a year. I doubt that this would promote a bodily sickness any more than an occasional Easter Egg.
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This is what I was thinking. Addiction by its nature is sinful, so addiction to tobacco is a sin. Tobacco is a difficult example because addiction it tied closely to its use. In your example, eating an easter egg is “unhealthy” as would be eating fast food etc, but I think its a bit overkill to say eating these is a sin in and of itself. Now if you ate them all the time, and became unhealthy and obese, I think this would point to an addiction of sorts, and that’s when it would become a sin.
 
Bob_Aliano said:
The simple answer is that anything you do to your body with the knowledge that it will cause harm is sinful.
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Would that include having a fried breakfast, or a doner kebab? They too are harmful for one’s health. Is lack of exercise a sin?

There is a real danger that we could become over-scruplous here. Enjoying tobacco (either through chewing or smoking) is not a sin, nor is drinking in relative moderation.
 
Mariem2 said:
Sometimes I think that people here on CAF invent or exaggerate rules
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I agree.

After reading some things on CAF before, I got very concerned and confessed what I thought were serious sins to a priest. He just looked at me with a look of puzzled amusement and assured me that there was nothing to worry about.

If people are concerned whether or not something is a sin, they should speak to their priest during confession. I think you’d find that they are a lot less puritanical than some of the things you’d read on CAF.
 
Brendan_64 said:
I agree.

After reading some things on CAF before, I got very concerned and confessed what I thought were serious sins to a priest. He just looked at me with a look of puzzled amusement and assured me that there was nothing to worry about.

If people are concerned whether or not something is a sin, they should speak to their priest during confession. I think you’d find that they are a lot less puritanical than some of the things you’d read on CAF.
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Indeed. Does Catholicism have a Taliban?
 
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