Smoking

[Josh316]

I’m a little confused on whether or not smoking cigarettes is a mortal, venial, or even a sin at all. Fr. John Corapi (whose opinion I have the highest respect for) says because of what it does to the body it is a mortal sin. However, the priest at my local parish says that because the body can become physically addicted to nicotine it may not be sinful at all. And finally, when I was going through RCIA a few years back, a priest (who was a smoker) said he thought it was venial. With all these different opinions what is one to believe? And if we are told to follow our conscience, one could talk him/herself into what ever suited their “need.” Thankfully I have never smoked but my dad does and is very concerned about the answer to this question. Thoughts?

 

[sheavague]

it’s a form of self abuse so i would see it as a sin.

 

[Josh316]

it’s a form of self abuse so i would see it as a sin.

Thank you for your response, but to what degree of sin?

 

[DavidFilmer]

There is nothing inherently sinful about smoking, if (as in all things) it is done in moderation. However, medical science is not in agreement regarding the effects of smoking, so “moderation” is difficult to define. Is one puff a week “moderation?” My mother died of smoker’s cancer (at age 53), and she smoked maybe two cigarettes per week. Others smoke two packs a day, but live to old age and die from unrelated causes.

But, regardless, NOTHING can be a mortal sin unless three conditions (and no less) are met:

• It must be a serious matter
• The person must know of the serious nature of the offense at the time
• The person must freely consent to the act

The matter of “moderation” speaks to the first of these conditions. I doubt anyone would claim that smoking 10 packs a day is OK. This is clearly self-destructive, so it would be a serious matter. But, what about one pack? What about one cigarette? What about one puff? Per day? Per week? Per month? What constitutes moderation?

But the third condition is also relevant in this case. Nicotine is an addictive drug. Addiction compromises free will. A person who smokes ten packs a day is clearly addicted, but may not be culpable of mortal sin because the addiction compromises his free will.

The real answer to your question is that there is no real answer. Smoking one pack a day may be mortally sinful for one person, yet it might not be so for another who smokes ten packs a day. And only God really knows for sure.

 

[Deconi]

Personally, I look at it in the same light as alcohol. Many say that this too is sinful, forgetting that Scriptures is full of drunkards and ‘merry making’ with drink!

That being the case, the issue is in the ‘abuse’ of the substance and its use to the extent of it being used to cause a consequence or effect that is ‘deliberately’ against God!

The drink, for instance, is used as being “responsible” for many sinful behaviour. Many drink knowing what some of the effects will be or likely to be before they drink, but they still drink…etc…etc.

Smoking effects our innards, and we don’t need scientific detail to reason this out. It is a drug that ‘alters’ or effects our “free” will. Many say it is addictive, but every smoker doesn’t know or realise that when they start, I’m assuming. It is either ‘fashionable’ or cool to do it or just to be in a social sphere… etc etc.

I believe it is a venial sin based on The Church’s stance on suicide! If it was equivalent to slowly killing yourself, the Church would have addressed it by now, similar to abortion which She addressed in the 60s, and smoking has been around and ‘more prominent’ around the globe by then!

Don’t quote me though! I may be Catholicus Staunchivus, but I am not the Catholic Church!

I know that didn’t help! sorry.

 

[Josh316]

There is nothing inherently sinful about smoking, if (as in all things) it is done in moderation. However, medical science is not in agreement regarding the effects of smoking, so “moderation” is difficult to define. Is one puff a week “moderation?” My mother died of smoker’s cancer (at age 53), and she smoked maybe two cigarettes per week. Others smoke two packs a day, but live to old age and die from unrelated causes.

But, regardless, NOTHING can be a mortal sin unless three conditions (and no less) are met:

• It must be a serious matter
• The person must know of the serious nature of the offense at the time
• The person must freely consent to the act

The matter of “moderation” speaks to the first of these conditions. I doubt anyone would claim that smoking 10 packs a day is OK. This is clearly self-destructive, so it would be a serious matter. But, what about one pack? What about one cigarette? What about one puff? Per day? Per week? Per month? What constitutes moderation?

But the third condition is also relevant in this case. Nicotine is an addictive drug. Addiction compromises free will. A person who smokes ten packs a day is clearly addicted, but may not be culpable of mortal sin because the addiction compromises his free will.

The real answer to your question is that there is no real answer. Smoking one pack a day may be mortally sinful for one person, yet it might not be so for another who smokes ten packs a day. And only God really knows for sure.

While I understand what your saying and think it a brilliantly stated response there are still some areas I don’t understand. Pornography is addictive, along with a lot of other sexual sins that scientifically may have no harmful effects on the body but spiritualy have very harmful effects on a person. I have always found the addiction part of cigarettes a week excuse (although, I admit I have never smoked) because even if one is addicted there are steps to help you quit and if you make no attempt it’s on you. Cigarettes are harmful to some degree whether or not one gets cancer. Because we know they have potential to cause cancer, that in itself, according to Fr. Corapi, makes it gravely sinful. I just don’t see nicotine addiction as lowering one’s level of sin. We all know that getting drunk is very sinful, so is the alcoholic less sinful than a “once and a while party person” when he or she gets drunk?

 

[Blood_Angel]

I would say, that even if smoking is a sin if you will, some people can go through 2 or 3 packs of 20 a day. To me, even 1 pack a day is too much.

Moderation, I believe in.

 

[odile53]

Well, generally speaking, a smoker doesn’t engage in the same kind of immoral collateral behaviors as, for example, a crack addict. But it is a nefarious habit and unquestionably damages the smoker’s health (and if they’re smoking indoors, the health of those around them.)

It’s easy to tell a smoker to quit, and point out that medications are available to do so. Having quit a number of times and gone back to it, I can assure you that’s easier said than done.

I’ve confessed smoking a number of times in the confessional, and have been told that it is a venial sin if I can’t just quit on my own. I have no idea how theologically sound that is, and quite frankly, I’m more interested in HOW I can do this, as opposed to how much of a sin it really is. Sorry to sound snarky about that, but those who have been in my position will know exactly what I am talking about. It’s all very well to tell me that it is a mortal versus a venial sin, or vice versa. The BIG question is, how do I do this and STAY quit and thus STOP this sin?

 

[odile53]

BTW–in the US, anyways, additives have been put in tobacco that are just as addictive as nicotine, especially in the last fifteen years or so. National Institutes of Health have documented this. It’s extremely rare that a smoker will be able to have “just a puff or so a week.” Most smokers are permanently hooked, and even if they quit, if they take a puff later on, they will get re-hooked.

 

[DavidFilmer]

Pornography is addictive, along with a lot of other sexual sins that scientifically may have no harmful effects on the body but spiritualy have very harmful effects on a person.

Yes, true - and with these sins (unlike smoking) there is no question of the extent “moderation.” We cannot gratify ourselves with porn, or cheat on our spouses, “in moderation.” There is no possibility of “moderation” in such actions.

I have always found the addiction part of cigarettes a week excuse (although, I admit I have never smoked) because even if one is addicted there are steps to help you quit and if you make no attempt it’s on you.

But what about someone who makes the attempt but fails? I have never known a smoker who has not tried to quit (which is one of the reasons why I never took it up in the first place). There’s the old joke: “Quitting is the easiest thing in the world. I’ve done it a hundred times.”

Cigarettes are harmful to some degree whether or not one gets cancer. Because we know they have potential to cause cancer, that in itself, according to Fr. Corapi, makes it gravely sinful.

With all due regard to Fr. Croapi, you would be challenged to find anything in our modern society that is *not *thought to cause cancer by somebody. For example, it is thought that hair coloring may cause cancer. The food color Red #3 has been linked to cancer. Is it “gravely sinful” to have your hair colored, or to eat (any amount of) Red-Hots candy?

I just don’t see nicotine addiction as lowering one’s level of sin. We all know that getting drunk is very sinful, so is the alcoholic less sinful than a “once and a while party person” when he or she gets drunk?

It all depends on the level of free-will. The party-person may intend to get drunk (“after all, it’s only once in a great while, so it’s OK”), whereas the alcoholic may do it every day because he is an addict. The first (occasional) person freely consents to getting occasionally drunk, but the alcoholic does it every day because of his addiction. Maybe the first is culpable of mortal sin, but the second is not.

 

[You]

Going out on a limb here. I don’t think being addicted to any chemical is itself a sin. But sin can result from the addiction. I think the chemical and the craving for the chemical, the chemical response, are unfortunate but in isolation not wicked or evil chemicals or chemical responses.
The drinkers of the chemical, alcohol, in the bible were not going to hell, only the drunkards - they are people who have lost control of themselves and their actions. Perhaps their character changed and they would do anything knowingly good or bad for drink.
The eaters in the bible, sugars and fats, were not going to hell, only the gluttons - they are people who have lost control of themselves and their appetites. Perhaps their character changed and they would do anything good or bad for food/or whatever.

 

[mom2em]

ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage.asp?number=568665&Pg=Forum4&Pgnu=1&recnu=3

 

[asd72]

I quit in January after smoking 20 years. I felt enslaved to it because of the addictive aspect, which ruled out practicing any sort of moderation for me. I couldn’t really comment on if it is sinful, but I felt convicted to give up because of my Christianity.

 

[Young_Thinker]

And finally, when I was going through RCIA a few years back, a priest (who was a smoker) said he thought it was venial.

It seems odd that he would say that, given that he himself uses tobacco. Even if I were to chain-smoke yet believe that it is a sin, I would probably never admit it.

 

[edowitz1]

Roman Catholic Doctrine Vs. The Doctrinal Teaching of the Word of God

Eternal life is a merited reward [1821, 2010]. - Roman Catholicism
Eternal life is the free gift of God (Romans 6:23)

No one can know if he will attain eternal life [1036, 2005] - Roman Catholicism
The believer can know that he has eternal life by the Word of God (1 John 5:13)

The Roman Catholic Church is necessary for salvation [846]. - Roman Catholicism
There is salvation in no one but the Lord Jesus Christ, “for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12)

Purgatory is necessary to atone for sin and clean the soul [1030-1031]. - Roman Catholicism
Purgatory does not exist. Jesus made purification for sins on the cross (Hebrews 1:3)

Mary was preserved from all stain of original sin from the first instant of her conception (the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception) [490-492].
Mary, a descendant of Adam, was born in sin (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12)

Mary is the Mother of the Church [963, 975]. - Roman Catholicism
Mary was the earthly mother of Jesus ( John 2:1)

The Magisterium is the authoritative teacher of the Church. [85-87]. - Roman Catholicism
The Holy Spirit is the authoritative teacher of the church (John 14:26; John 16:13, I John 2:27)

The pope, as the Bishop of Rome, is the successor of Peter [882, 936] - Roman Catholicism
Peter had no successor, nor was he a pope.

The pope is infallible in his authoritative teaching [891]. - Roman Catholicism
God alone is infallible (Numbers 23:19)

Scripture and Tradition together are the Word of God [81, 85, 97, 182]. - Roman Catholicism
Scripture is the Word of God (John 10:35, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21). Tradition is the words of men (Mark 7:1-13).

The sacrificial work of redemption is continually carried out through the Sacrifice of the Mass. [1364,1405, 1846]. - Roman Catholicism
The sacrificial work of redemption was finished when Christ gave His life for us on the cross (Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 1:3).

God desires that consecrated bread and wine be worshiped as divine. [1378-1381] - Roman Catholicism
God forbids the worship of any object, even t hose intended to represent Him (Exodus 20:4-5, Isaiah 42:8)

Justification is lost through mortal sin [1033, 1855, 1874] - Roman Catholicism
Justification cannot be lost. Those whom God justifies will be saved from the wrath of God (Romans 5:8-9).

Justification is furthered by sacraments and good works [1212, 1392, 2010] - Roman Catholicism
Justification is the imputation of the perfect righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). In Christ the believer has been made complete (Colossians 2:10).

Salvation is attained by cooperating with grace through faith, good works, and participation in the sacraments [183, 1129, 1815, 2002]. - Roman Catholicism
Salvation is attained by grace through faith apart from works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Good works are the result, not the cause, of salvation (Ephesians 2:10).

Mary, “the All-Holy,” lived a perfectly sinless life [411, 493]. - Roman Catholicism
Mary was a sinner; God alone is sinless (Luke 18:19, Romans 3:23, Revelation 15:4).

Mary was a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Christ [496-511]. - Roman Catholicism
Mary remained a virgin until after the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:25). Later she had other children (Matthew 13:55-56, Psalm 69:8).

Each Sacrifice of the Mass appeases God’s wrath against sin [1371, 1414]. - Roman Catholicism
The once-for-all sacrifice of the cross fully appeased God’s wrath against sin. (Hebrews 10:12-18).

The Bishops, with the Pope, as their head, rule the universal church. [883, 894-896]. - Roman Catholicism
Christ, the head of the body is the Head of the Church. (Colossians 1:18).

The faithful receive the benefits of the cross in fullest measure through the Sacrifice of the Mass [1366, 1407]. - Roman Catholicism
Believers receive the benefits of the cross in fullest measure in Christ through faith (Ephesians 1:3-14).

God has exalted Mary in heavenly glory as Queen of Heaven and Earth [966]. She is to be praised with special devotion [971, 2675]. - Roman Catholicism
The name of the Lord is to be praised, for He alone is exalted above heaven and earth (Psalm 148:13). God commands, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3).

Mary is the co-mediator to whom we can entrust all our cares and petitions 9 968-970, 2677] - Roman Catholicism
Christ Jesus is the one mediator to whom we can entrust all our cares and petitions (1 Timothy 2:5, John 14:13-14, 1 Peter 5:7).

Mary is the co-redeemer, for she participate with Christ in the painful act of redemption [618, 964, 968, 970]. - Roman Catholicism
Christ alone is the Redeemer, for He alone suffered and died for sin (1 Peter 1:18-19).

The sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated in the Sacrifice of the Mass [1323, 1382] - Roman Catholicism
The Sacrifice of the cross is finished (John 19:30).

Indulgences dispensed by the Church for acts of piety release sinners from temporal punishment [1471-1473]. - Roman Catholicism
Jesus releases believers from their sins by His blood. (Revelation 1:5).

The Magisterium has the right to define truth found only obscurely or implicitly in revelation. [66, 88, 2035, 2051]. - Roman Catholicism
No one has the right to go beyond what is written in Scripture (1 Corinthians 4:6, Proverbs 30:5-6).

Scripture and Tradition together are the Church’s supreme role of faith [80, 82]. - Roman Catholicism
Scripture is the church’s rule of faith (Mark 7:7-13, 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

 

[Debra_C]

I quit smoking for Lent before entering the Church. I had come to see it as mortally sinful for me. However, this is entirely my opinion and was related to my specific circumstances. My husband had an MRSA infection surgically removed form the outside of his right lung. It very nearly claimed his life and caused permanent lung damage. As a result, even smelling the smoke on my clothes and hair caused him asthma attacks, and it was beginning to drive a wedge between us that I was so hopelessly addicted.

Addiction affects one’s ability to grant full consent of the will which may reduce one’s culpability. However, in modern times, one must admit that very few of us start smoking in the first place without the awareness of its bad health effects. 30 - 40 years ago, this was not so. The seriously harmful effects of smoking were not well known and the research was only beginning to take shape. Mortal sin requires both full knowledge and consent of free will. I hope these thoughts help you in your own discernment process.

 

[JaredM]

Horrible habit but I don’t force someone to stop smoking. It’s their choice to smoke.

 

[PrayHarder]

I’m a little confused on whether or not smoking cigarettes is a mortal, venial, or even a sin at all. Fr. John Corapi (whose opinion I have the highest respect for) says because of what it does to the body it is a mortal sin.

I think I know the lecture you are referring to. It’s the one where he talks about confession and also tells the story of his dad quitting cold turkey after being told smoking was killing him. If I remember that talk correctly, Fr. Corapi did say that the mortality of the sin is mitigated because of the addiction. It removes the tenant of it being a completely free choice.

There was another, heated thread on this topic a while back. My position is that medical science basically confirms that smoking is bad for you. And while some smokers are exceptions to the rule and live a long time, you are still playing russian roulette with your life when you take up smoking.

 

[DENNYINMI]

Well, generally speaking, a smoker doesn’t engage in the same kind of immoral collateral behaviors as, for example, a crack addict. But it is a nefarious habit and unquestionably damages the smoker’s health (and if they’re smoking indoors, the health of those around them.)

It’s easy to tell a smoker to quit, and point out that medications are available to do so. Having quit a number of times and gone back to it, I can assure you that’s easier said than done.

I’ve confessed smoking a number of times in the confessional, and have been told that it is a venial sin if I can’t just quit on my own. I have no idea how theologically sound that is, and quite frankly, I’m more interested in HOW I can do this, as opposed to how much of a sin it really is. Sorry to sound snarky about that, but those who have been in my position will know exactly what I am talking about. It’s all very well to tell me that it is a mortal versus a venial sin, or vice versa. The BIG question is, how do I do this and STAY quit and thus STOP this sin?

Excellent points! Obviously, we know it is indeed an addiction. I am an R.N. that works with addiction every day, so similar principles that apply to the addict, can certainly apply to long term recovery of nicotine. The concept of how do “I” do it? Stay quit? is a concept that is a problem.
The truth is with an addiction such as nicotine, (which by the way is proven more difficult to stop entirely than that of crack cocaine, which is truly a devilish addiction), it will not be “you” that does it. It is, and only best conquered through the intercession of Christ.
The compulsion is overwhelming. You must 1st have a burning desire to quit, then turn it over to Christ, because in all actuality, it is He who does it “for you”…without the realization that “will power” is nothing in comparison to the power of the Almighty God…those with addiction loose almost every time, and the rehab centers see the relapsed individual 6 months down the road…again…back for treatment, once again.
Total surrender over powerlessness of this addiction or any addiction is the key to true recovery.
When this model (12 steps) was the only model years ago, the long term recovery rate was met with much better long term recovery. Why? it admitted powerlessness, and turned it over to our Higher power, (Our Lord), and recovery could be attained. However, since bean counters have turned it into a mere medical model of recovery, and any attempt to disallow the 12 steps, we see the greater relapse and re-treatment with addictions. Interesting!
Note: check out the 12 Spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, and compare them to the 12 step program for addiction…see the similarities!
If the desire is there…God awaits! God Bless!

 

[Josh316]

What I get out of most of these posts is that the chemical addiction to cigarettes lessens a persons culpability when speaking in terms of level of sin. But how many people could make the same claim. What about someone who is not married and knows that sex outside the sacrement of marriage is wrong, so this person has developed a habit of masturbation because he or she doesn’t want to involve another party, which leads to addiction to masturbation. Say this person is trying to stop masturbating but after so long the urge to have sexual release returns and they slip up. (sounds like smoking to me) So this person who is trying to stop masturbating, even though addicted, through prayer, the rosary, etc., is commiting mortal sin, but the smoker, whether trying to quit or not, is possibly not even sinning. Another person pointed out the three conditions for mortal sin. I have a book entitled “This is Our Faith” which is a Catholic book that gets into faith and morals quite extensively. On the subject of masturbation it speaks of how it is gravely sinful,and yet depending on the person’s situation, such as if it is habit, the sin maybe lessened. So if the Church teaches that it is mortally sinful but the person in question is unsure if they fall into one of the “loopholes” that lessens the sin, isn’t that person, by definition, not commiting mortal sin since they are unsure and get many different answers to the same question from many different sources? That’s kind of the point behind why I started this post. Somethings such as murder or rape are “iron clad” mortal sins but what about the one’s that even the Church has difficulty discerning?