Smoking Cigarettes

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COPLAND_3 said:
No the stereotype exist because there is lots of abuse, I see it. I don’t see Catholics worshipping Mary, but I see Catholics thinking it’s Ok to be a drunk.
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That’s human error, a product of sin. You’re going to find Catholics who think its okay to use contraception, yet the Church clearly teaches otherwise. It’s the exact same case here.

The fact of the matter is, Catholicism does not teach it.

There are indeed some Catholics who practice Marian worship, it is not unheard of. Does this mean that we should stop venerating Mary?

Look, at the end of the day there is NO precedent in Catholic history or teaching for abstaining completely from alcohol or smoking; except for health or ascetic reasons. In fact Catholic teaching and history says the exact opposite; enjoy a drink if you would like!
 
Look, I have brought some emotion to this topic and I don’t mean to be personal with any of you, I simply disagree with some of you and I am trying to work this one out for myself because it is an issue that I struggle with accepting. I am only defending against what I have seen and what I know that non-Catholics that I know feel about Catholics, my wife being one of them that won’t consider Catholicism because she has friends and family who are Catholic and they have the loose position on this topic. This is a big hang-up for many people, and personally I feel that they have a good point to some extent.

That being said I hope that I have not offended any of you, I am sorry if I did, and I have made my case and I will stop here.
 
Here’s food for thought… or should I say drink? and a big one at that!


Cardinal Ratzinger certainly enjoys his beer.
 
COPLAND_3 said:
Look, I have brought some emotion to this topic and I don’t mean to be personal with any of you, I simply disagree with some of you and I am trying to work this one out for myself because it is an issue that I struggle with accepting. I am only defending against what I have seen and what I know that non-Catholics that I know feel about Catholics, my wife being one of them that won’t consider Catholicism because she has friends and family who are Catholic and they have the loose position on this topic. This is a big hang-up for many people, and personally I feel that they have a good point to some extent.

That being said I hope that I have no offended any of you, I am sorry if I did, and I have made my case and I will stop here.
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It was a spirited discussion! No harm at all. 😃

Your position is valid, one can chose to abstain from alcohol or smoking. But the Catholic position also allows for moderate use of alcohol or tobacco.

I understand that you must be affected by the culture you live in, I’ll certainly say a prayer for your wife :).
 
It is too bad that you have been given a bad impression by Catholics. Catholics are human after all and do sin and make mistakes, as do protestants and atheists and nearly all human beings. We should try to be better role models.

I agree that moderation is the key. I don’t see a problem with someone enjoying a beer with friends or a glass of wine with dinner every now and then. I have never seen the appeal of drinking to get drunk and I do consider drinking to intentionally get drunk to be sinful. Whether it would be mortal or venial would possibly depend on the circumstances involved (alcohol addictions, or if it causes loss of self-control, serious harm to one’s own health or serious harm to the lives of others)

Of course if one would rather not drink than put themselves in temptation to overdo proper bounds of moderation I see no problem with it, but I don’t think complete temperance is an absolute moral requirement.
 
Freshman88 said:
Moderation, not teetotaling, is the Catholic tradition.

If you don’t think you can be moderate in your drinking/smoking, then why object to those who can?

It’s quite a serious claim to be labeling these activities as mortal sins. I will not receive the Eucharist with any stain of mortal sin, this is the greatest sin as far as I’m concerned. Can you honestly tell me that by enjoying a smooth refreshing smoke on my way to mass, that I have somehow become unworthy of receiving Christ and entering into communion?

Also, I think it would be interesting to note where everyone is located. My perception is that it seems to be an influence from a certain brand of American Christianity.
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My husband often has a smoke before going into Mass. I know he’s doing it out of addiction rather than disrespect, but it seems to me if we are to abstain from food and drink for an hour before communion that we should certainly refrain from tobacco, which is unhealthy for at least an hour as well. I know he means no disrespect. I guess maybe it counts as self medication:confused:

Should smoking otherwise bar one from communion? I think most of the time usually smoking is probably a venial sin not a mortal one. If someone on occasion has a cigarette or cigar that might not necessarily even be a sin, but for most people who are addicted to smoking it is certainly not healthy and good for the body as a temple.
 
To the people saying smoking is a sin inherently. I disagree, and I believe you’re being dishonest.

Now, if you want to say that one shouldn’t sin because it’s dangerous; fine, I agree with you. But smoking casually, i.e. one or two a day, is not a sin.
 
EphelDuath said:
To the people saying smoking is a sin inherently. I disagree, and I believe you’re being dishonest.

Now, if you want to say that one shouldn’t sin because it’s dangerous; fine, I agree with you. But smoking casually, i.e. one or two a day, is not a sin.
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One or two cigarettes a day would not be sinful in my opinion. One or two packs a day?? Not necessarily a mortal sin, especially for those who are chemically addicted, but certainly not healthy.
 
Holly3278 said:
The Bible says that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit:

1 Corinthians 6:19 RSV Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own;
1 Corinthians 6:20 RSV you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

And the Catechism says this about tobacco:

But the question is, just what exactly or how much is excess? What do you think? 🤷:confused:
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The smoking ads say ‘every cigarette does you harm’. I’ve been told smoking isn’t a sin unless you are attached to it. I don’t personally know many smokers who aren’t attached to it, including myself. I don’t think God likes me smoking. A little boy came up to me after mass not so long ago and said 'did you know people who smoke don’t live as many years as people who don’t smoke?". I nearly asked him if he had just started his discipleship for God. I also looked at pics of the incorrupt saints and figured they probably didn’t smoke. When it comes to smoking I am learning towards the idea yes we are temples and it probably isn’t a very good idea to smoke at all. Smoking a few cigarettes probably isn’t an excess, but then if one weren’t attached to it, they probably wouldn’t smoke, hence for most smokers it probably is a sin, and if ever cigarette does you harm, then I’ve got my answer. I spent a lot of time trying to justify if God was ok with smoking or not, and what kept coming to me was this ‘we are temples’. I don’t know how God feels about others smoking, but I really don’t think he is too impressed I do.
 
kyria said:
The smoking ads say ‘every cigarette does you harm’. I’ve been told smoking isn’t a sin unless you are attached to it. I don’t personally know many smokers who aren’t attached to it, including myself. I don’t think God likes me smoking. A little boy came up to me after mass not so long ago and said 'did you know people who smoke don’t live as many years as people who don’t smoke?". I nearly asked him if he had just started his discipleship for God. I also looked at pics of the incorrupt saints and figured they probably didn’t smoke. When it comes to smoking I am learning towards the idea yes we are temples and it probably isn’t a very good idea to smoke at all. Smoking a few cigarettes probably isn’t an excess, but then if one weren’t attached to it, they probably wouldn’t smoke, hence for most smokers it probably is a sin, and if ever cigarette does you harm, then I’ve got my answer. I spent a lot of time trying to justify if God was ok with smoking or not, and what kept coming to me was this ‘we are temples’. I don’t know how God feels about others smoking, but I really don’t think he is too impressed I do.
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What do you mean by “attached”? Do you mean “addicted”? Do you mean enjoyment? Do you mean preoccupation?:confused: :confused:
 
Freshman88 said:
I always have gum inside my pack of smokes so that takes care of breath. I also live in Montreal most of the year, a coat is needed so that takes care of the smell.:).
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Uugghh! You just don’t know what that coat smells like, and the rest of you. The gum is just an extra scent, believe me, a non
smoker smells that smokey smell.

When people’s perfume is too strong, at least it’s for the reason that they are trying to smell good and make others happy. But
it seems like a smoker just doesn’t care about others. They don’t
even seem to care about themselves.
 
Gum might help mask smokers breath a little, except I think chewing gum during mass is disrespectful.

I would be more bothered by someone chewing gum in mass than bad smokers breath.
 
cheeto1 said:
Uugghh! You just don’t know what that coat smells like, and the rest of you. The gum is just an extra scent, believe me, a non
smoker smells that smokey smell.

When people’s perfume is too strong, at least it’s for the reason that they are trying to smell good and make others happy. But
it seems like a smoker just doesn’t care about others. They don’t
even seem to care about themselves.
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Yes, I don’t care about myself or about others because I happened to have a smoke on my way from the library to Church, on a Wednesday afternoon. Oh the guilt… :rolleyes:
 
kaws said:
I would be more bothered by someone chewing gum in mass than bad smokers breath.
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are we really going to nitpick this? This is just getting silly now. No, I do not chew the gum during mass.
 
cheeto1 said:
What you find smooth and refreshing may be found disgusting and distracting to those of us who have to sit next to you at mass, and drink from the cup after you. I’m sure you are a good
Christian, but it would be nice if you would think of others in this matter. And if only I could meet you in person, I would never have the guts to say this to you.
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What would you do if someone sits next to you at Mass with body odor or bad breath? Do you not consume from the cup because they have halitosis? What about all the cold/flu, etc. germs that are on the rim of the cup that you can’t see or smell, but you know they are there?

I find body odor or some horrible perfumes to be way more offensive than the smell of cigarette smoke. We certainly can’t start condemning people to hell because of their odor.

Thus, I still maintain that smoking cigarettes in moderation is not a mortal sin. However, the trick is to keep it in moderation. Since it is a habit-forming substance, that is difficult.
 
ForwardProgress said:
I think smoking should be a mortal sin. It is a disordered use of the lungs. Fr Corapi agrees.
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*That would make driving a car a mortal sin since it causes serious lung problems for others, especially those who live in large cities or near highways! *
It kind of plays a role in war as well :hmmm:.
 
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