Thank you for this. One of my pet peeves is people who criticize a priest for smoking. Are you kidding me!?!? With all our priests give up and everything they do 24/7, this is not something that should even be discussed.
Amen to this! I used to smoke. I quit shortly after my RV retreat. I still occasionally will have one or two but won’t go back to a habit. My Dad is a chain smoker and will leave Mass to smoke if it’s too long but he waits till after communion! He’s 74 so I cut him slack. He quit for a lot of years and recently why back. Whatever. He enjoys it.
It guess it largely depends on how one looks at it. And yes, speaking of Padre Pio’s use of tobacco, I meant that it contributed to his image in a positive manner. One could argue that it added a little color to a saintly man, and smoke surrounding such a person can give them an added sense of holiness, like how when incense is used at Mass, not to mention that fire tends to be associated with life (I know that this sounds a little kooky, but I’m basically looking at it from a psychological perspective). And for some people, smoking does provide more satisfaction than infirmity. Many people smoke all of their lives yet do not die from a disease like lung cancer or emphysema. As you may know, Sir Winston Churchill drank heavily and smoke a box of cigars a day and yet to be 90 years old and was in good health well into old age (not that I would ever encourage people to emulate Sir Winston’s profuse consumption of alcohol and tobacco). And rather than smoking just because they are addicted, some people, especially those who are new to the habit or are not addicted to it, actually like tobacco. So, frankly, if it does not kill you, tobacco, like alcohol and good food (and nor would I want people to overeat; there is already more than enough obesity in this world, while many other people are starving!), can add a lot to one’s life. As Mark Twain said:
Smoking is a risky bahavior, that’s sure. But it is a social tool and a pleasurable activity. My kids, growing up in the current environment, think that “smoking will kill you” and “smoking gives you cancer” The lung cancer rate for smokers is 10%. That’s high but hardly a medical certainty. Most people who smoke will never suffer from it - except in the form of social persecution.
I look at it like this. Spending every waking moment of your life wondering when you’re going to get your next smoke is no quality of life whatsoever. People who are addicted to cigarettes think about cigarettes the first thing when they wake up in the morning. While at work, they think about smoking until they get a chance to sneak off for an extra break. They smoke around their kids, even if they can see it is making them sick. In the old days, smoking was more acceptable socially. Now, however, people can’t smoke anywhere, so those who are addicted can’t enjoy time out with their family and friends. They can’t fully enjoy Mass or any of the activities they like to do, because they are always wondering when they’re going to get to smoke again. Sometimes, a lack of cigarette for more than a few hours will actually make them sick. When out to eat, they have to leave the table and stand in sweltering heat and sub-zero temperature in order to get a hit of niccotine. Sometimes other people don’t enjoy being around them beause they stink. There is nothing about smoking that improves anyone’s quality of life.
Indeed, Corki! And the same time that many places want to forbid people to even smoke in their own vehicles, I doubt that any government will actually outlaw tobacco; the revenues that they receive from “sin taxes” make it very unlikely. However, if the taxes on tobacco, on cigarettes in particular, are raised too high, expect the black market to thrive not unlike it did with alcohol during the Prohibition Period (this did happen with cigarettes in Nazi Germany)!…Most people who smoke will never suffer from it - except in the form of social persecution.
I see nothing pleasurable about it. How is it a social tool? What manner of people are you going to endear yourself to with cigarettes? Do you really think “all the cool people do it?” Smoking absolutly does make people sick. It may not be lung cancer that gets you, but there is overwhelming evidence that it causes severe and chronic respritory problems, even after a short time smoking. I never knew a chronic smoker who enjoyed good health. Nearly everyone in my family smokes and they are always constantly sick. I work in a school, for crying out loud, and I have less colds than the rest of them.Smoking is a risky bahavior, that’s sure. But it is a social tool and a pleasurable activity. My kids, growing up in the current environment, think that “smoking will kill you” and “smoking gives you cancer” The lung cancer rate for smokers is 10%. That’s high but hardly a medical certainty. Most people who smoke will never suffer from it - except in the form of social persecution.
I teach, am a smoker, and hardly ever have a cold or congestion.
I’m just repeating the stats. Smoking makes a lot of people sick, but not everyone - not even most people. It’s a risk factor.
I just think the attitude against smoking in the US borders on hysteria at times.We have ashtrays right outside of the building. So if people shouldn’t smoke there, they need to move the ashtrays.
Good idea, why don’t you suggest that to your priest?
I never saw a bar or party where smoking was required. Smoking is still allowed in bars in my state, though not in restaurants. I still don’t see how it can be a tool. If you know people that will only hang out with you if you smoke, they’re probably not worth your time.I’m just repeating the stats. Smoking makes a lot of people sick, but not everyone - not even most people. It’s a risk factor.
As for the social tool, you may be too young to remember when smoking was permitted in bars and at parties. If you spend much time in other countries, you can see how they still have some of that social component to smoking. As for pleasure, I never cared much for cigarette smoke but love to be around good pipe smoking.
For the record, I am a non-smoker so I am not arguing in support of my own vice.
Attention parishoners: The ashtrays have been moved across the parking lot, behind the dumpsters.
giggle-snort
Once they move the perfume wears, I will say something. Until then,
Because we now know the health dangerous of smoking does not make it sinful. Not everything that is hazardous to your health is sinful. Being healthy does not equate to morality or holiness. Red meat, butter, vodka, are not considered healthy but in an of themselves are not sinful. Not washing your hands after the restroom isn’t healthy either. It may be gross, but it’s not sinful. Do not think that our modern ideas of healthy living automatically outline what is or isn’t sinful behavior.
Smoking in and of itself is not sinful, however, as with all addictions, it can lead to sinful behavior.
