Smoking in Front of the Church After Mass

[Young_Thinker]

No one does that at our church. I think it would be tacky.

Smoking is gross.

Oh, come on! Just because you do not like the scent of cigarettes does not make it disgusting. Our pastor routinely takes a smoking break after Confession and before Mass on Saturdays and is not above having a puff after Mass (though he is too friendly to rush out the door after the service). I do not see anything that is wrong with Christians, even priests smoking outside of a church or anywhere else (though doing it during Mass would be a little too irreverent).

 

[PatriceA]

I don’t smoke cigarettes anymore, but I used to. I still don’t see the problem with firing one up after mass/dinner, etc. Who cares?

There’s got to be a better place though than right outside the Church building after Mass. At least wait until you get to your car or something so the rest of us don’t have to walk through the smoke. There’s nothing worse than going out to eat, shopping, or even to Mass and then immediately stepping through someone’s cigarette smoke as you’re making the way out of the building… I don’t want to go home with that smell on my clothes. Plus there are people that are extremely allergic to the smoke. Just have some consideration, that’s all I ask.

 

[followingtheway]

Is it the Evangelical Protestant in me that makes me cringe when I see that?

If that’s the case then the majority of Catholics I know would have an Evangelical Protestant in them. What the person was doing, was wrong.

 

[Windmill]

Smoking is no sin unless it becomes an occasion of intemperance. Intemperance draws one into excesses of the flesh and small pleasures become consuming. Intemperance also can be a sin against the family where the resources are much needed for necessities. This is the same with alcohol.

However, even Fr. Chad Ripperger, FSSP, who is one of the most conservative priests in the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter says smoking, per se, is no sin (and those guys are the spiritual and moral Marines of Catholicism).

 

[Rascalking]

Just have some consideration, that’s all I ask.

That makes sense, and I agree.

I smoke cigars now, about one every few months or so. I smoke with friends on my deck or in a cigar bar. As long as you don’t come on to my property and tell me what to do, I won’t smoke in front of you.

PS-In the privacy of my own home, on my deck one time, I was asked by my neighbor not to smoke cigars because “the smoke might go to his property”. There is NO chance of that happening, our houses are about 800 feet apart or so. I politely told him that on my property I’ll do what I darn well please.

Both smokers and anti-smokers can be rude.

 

[I_Thirst]

on my deck one time, I was asked by my neighbor not to smoke cigars because “the smoke might go to his property”.

Your neighbor sounds a little nutty.

 

[Rascalking]

Your neighbor sounds a little nutty.

We have diametrically opposed political views and since we both put out signs on our front lawn, our relationship didn’t really start off well to begin with. He’s a good guy though.

 

[I_Thirst]

We have diametrically opposed political views and since we both put out signs on our front lawn, our relationship didn’t really start off well to begin with. He’s a good guy though.

I think one can be a good guy while still being a little nutty.

 

[Loboto-Me]

If it’s the case of allergies, then I want equal rights (rawr!) I want men and women to stop wearing perfume and hairspray clouds! Ugh!

My husband and I still smoke, but we do wait until we get to the car to light up. What I noticed though, is that there used to be much more fraternisation with each other when it was customary to smoke in front of the church (70’s and 80’s). The smokers would stop to light up, and then other smokers would join them and make friendly chit chat. This has been my own observation through the years.

Now that most people don’t stop in front to light up afterwards, it seems there are much fewer fraternizing groups. Afterall, smoking was considered a social habit back then.

 

[Catholic90]

Oh, come on! Just because you do not like the scent of cigarettes does not make it disgusting. Our pastor routinely takes a smoking break after Confession and before Mass on Saturdays and is not above having a puff after Mass (though he is too friendly to rush out the door after the service). I do not see anything that is wrong with Christians, even priests smoking outside of a church or anywhere else (though doing it during Mass would be a little too irreverent).

Well, cigarette smoke is not a “scent” - it is an odor.

People should not smoke outside the doors where others must walk through it. I despise the smell of cigarette smoke and I do not want my clothes to stink of smoke, so please, if you are going to make yourself smell disgusting, do not make others walk through it who do not like it. Go to your car and light up, or your own home. That is your property where you can do what you like!

 

[Rascalking]

I think one can be a good guy while still being a little nutty.

Very true!

 

[TrueLight]

A stumbling block usually refers to something that leads another to sin. Except as noted previously as a bad example to children, I don’t see how that applies.

Many non-Catholics want Catholicism to conform to their idea of what Christianity *should *be. Catholics don’t have a problem with smoking, drinking or even gambling (gasp) as long as prudence and tempercance are the guiding values.

I don’t see how this would be any more of a stumbling block than the parish casino night or the beer tent at the parish bazzar.

Well yes, those can be seen as stumbling blocks too.

Oh it’s okay to drink, smoke and gamble? Let’s go crazy! Voila – stumbling block.

I’m being somewhat facetious but I was raised to avoid all those things. I do drink in moderation, but I wouldn’t expect a church to have a function with drinking or gambling, but like I said, that may be an Evangelical thing.

 

[Link0126]

If anything, it’s only a sin of the “modern age”. Sort of like not recycling or driving a SUV. No one had a problem with smoking or even smoking near a church in past decades. It is simply a reflection of the times that people feel this way. It has nothing to do with religion or sin at all.

 

[Link0126]

Well yes, those can be seen as stumbling blocks too.

Oh it’s okay to drink, smoke and gamble? Let’s go crazy! Voila – stumbling block.

I’m being somewhat facetious but I was raised to avoid all those things. I do drink in moderation, but I wouldn’t expect a church to have a function with drinking or gambling, but like I said, that may be an Evangelical thing.

My Catholic Church when I was a kid had an annual dinner and other functions to raise money. I also remember that outside they would have a few games for gambling. The spinning wheel etc… You would bet with quarters or a few bucks. Even the kids would play.

 

[PatriceA]

If it’s the case of allergies, then I want equal rights (rawr!) I want men and women to stop wearing perfume and hairspray clouds! Ugh!

My husband and I still smoke, but we do wait until we get to the car to light up. What I noticed though, is that there used to be much more fraternisation with each other when it was customary to smoke in front of the church (70’s and 80’s). The smokers would stop to light up, and then other smokers would join them and make friendly chit chat. This has been my own observation through the years.

Now that most people don’t stop in front to light up afterwards, it seems there are much fewer fraternizing groups. Afterall, smoking was considered a social habit back then.

In the case of perfume and hairspray, I will admit I have cut way back on the perfume after reading some of the threads on CAF about people that suffer allergies because of it. I never thought about how my wearing perfume can affect other people’s health. I would hate to think I caused someone to suffer health wise when I have the means to do otherwise. I wish more smokers realized that when they’re out in public. I don’t think smokers even realize how bad they can smell. You don’t even have to be lighting one up. All I have to do is walk past you or stand next to you to get a whiff of your clothes or even your hair to know you are a smoker.

 

[TevereNauta]

If anything, it’s only a sin of the “modern age”. Sort of like not recycling or driving a SUV. No one had a problem with smoking or even smoking near a church in past decades. It is simply a reflection of the times that people feel this way. It has nothing to do with religion or sin at all.

Dead on correct! Any sin attached to using tobacco comes from intemperate use, and not the act of using it as all things ought to be used, temperately. If I choose to have a cigarette/cigar/draw of the pipe after Holy Mass it’s my own business, provided I am not exhaling into groups of children or some such on purpose. :hey_bud:

On a personal note I find the OP rather arrogant to boot, it seems to go along with the modern idea that ‘if I think it is harmful, you cannot do it’, and this line of thought presupposes the ills of everything from regular milk, chocolate, or fast food…not that I am much a fan of the latter. Ah, which puts me in mind of my all time favorite cookery show, The Two Fat Ladies, who unapologetically travelled the beautiful English countryside cooking up lovely, hearty dishes with real cream and butter while one of the pair, more often than not, relished a stiff drink and a draw of the cigarette. Both are (one, Jennifer Patterson, having gone home to God to cook in heaven, RIP) devout, devout Catholics and mentioned it often.

And before the OP decides to measure other people’s morality by their personal standards
once more, I would remind them that the Holy Father himself has been known to enjoy tobacco on occasion. As Jennifer Patterson would have said, “a sensible creature”.

 

[PatriceA]

My Catholic Church when I was a kid had an annual dinner and other functions to raise money. I also remember that outside they would have a few games for gambling. The spinning wheel etc… You would bet with quarters or a few bucks. Even the kids would play.

Some people consider Bingo a gambling activity and think Catholic Churches should not participate in it. I don’t know what the parishes around me would do if Bingo was no longer accepted in the Church, its the biggest fundraiser for all of them.

 

[TrueLight]

On a personal note I find the OP rather arrogant to boot…

And before the OP decides to measure other people’s morality by their personal standards
once more….

Normally, I would have a few choice words for you, but seeing that I am in such a good mood because I just received from Amazon, “the Perfect Joy of Saint Francis”, I won’t respond in kind.

If you notice in my posts, I admitted that my beliefs are probably vestiges of Evangelical Protestantism and I wanted to know if there are any such beliefs in Catholicism. Doesn’t sound arrogant to me.

It takes time to change one’s world view.

 

[PatriceA]

Normally, I would have a few choice words for you, but seeing that I am in such a good mood because I just received from Amazon, “the Perfect Joy of Saint Francis”, I won’t respond in kind.

If you notice in my posts, I admitted that my beliefs are probably vestiges of Evangelical Protestantism and I wanted to know if there are any such beliefs in Catholicism. Doesn’t sound arrogant to me.

It takes time to change one’s world view.

If it means anything TrueLight, I found your OP only inquisitive, not arrogant at all. Other people have asked the very same question on CAF. Its not like you’re the first person to ever wonder about smoking.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

I had to chuckle when I started reading this thread. When I was in Houston for the SLC conference, I was a little taken aback when I saw our host Metropolitan light up after Mass (sans vestments, of course and before our dinner). But, I certainly was not offended by it. He joked that he was a chain smoker. I was more worried about his lungs than anything else, as he is a very holy man and I would love for you guys to keep him for a long time.

If anything, Blessed Miguel Pro used to smoke like a chimney. There are pictures of him smoking while he was disguised as an auto mechanic.

If we’re speaking of the same metropolitan, a friend of mine had a cigarette with him outside a high school graduation ceremony in another state/diocese where he was the ordinary.

Smoking is a nasty habit. I love doing it. I hope to stop. They say it’s harder than giving up heroin. My church has ash trays outside in the courtyard. I take advantage of them. I’m one of few who do. I think it IS probably a sin, but a sin against temperance. If one could do it in moderation, it’s probably not sinful. I simply can’t do it in moderation.