smoking

[mikekle]

Ive been a smoker for over 20 yrs and I do tend to think it is a sin, it is basically very slow suicide by poisoning.

If you look at the fingernails of anyone who has been poisoned, they have white lines, or streaks of white, smokers have these very same lines/streaks.

 

[kozlosap]

Here on the West Coast, you will find people at freeway exits with signs in their hands asking for money. I always chuckle when they are standing there with a sign in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other! Obviously if they can afford to smoke when one pack of cigarettes costs ten dollars, then they don’t need my money.

 

[mikekle]

Here on the West Coast, you will find people at freeway exits with signs in their hands asking for money. I always chuckle when they are standing there with a sign in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other! Obviously if they can afford to smoke when one pack of cigarettes costs ten dollars, then they don’t need my money.

well, I know alot of homeless and poor people around here, go to public ash trays, such as ones in front of stores, and gather used cigarette butts that still have alot of cigarette left and smoke those, so they may not be buying actual packs.

 

[ringil]

Smoking is not a good idea at all and is very harmful to the body.

I do not believe it is necessarily a sin though- especially when it becomes addictive- which it certainly is for most smokers.

My mother has COPD and will die as a result of smoking and she continues to smoke. I am not a fan of the tobacco industry, but I don not believe that smoking is sinful per se.

 

[Jack007]

I don not believe that smoking is sinful per se.

smoking is disrespect to the body and health. so it is a sin. but due to addiction, it is venial.

 

[ClearWater]

smoking is disrespect to the body and health. so it is a sin. but due to addiction, it is venial.

I think that it may be, but I wonder if it is sometimes more than venial in certain circumstances.

Like, if a smoker insists on smoking next to someone’s oxygen tank in the ICU, like I actually saw years ago before we had laws, I wonder if it’s still venial, if the person knowingly does this, doesn’t care whether that person lives or dies.

I’ve had where my sister had Raynaud’s Disease, and my family would ask at a public event for her to refrain from smoking due to my sister’s health problem. She wouldn’t. When a person knows it could have even worse consequences, doesn’t care, continues to smoke inspite of pleads to stop, where one person could put another in the hospital, I wonder if those circumstances could change the sin into a mortal sin.

Well, sometimes smokers kill not only themselves but other people. When their second-hand smoke kills another person, and they refuse to stop, I can’t help but wonder if it’s then a mortal sin.

 

[ClearWater]

Ive been a smoker for over 20 yrs and I do tend to think it is a sin, it is basically very slow suicide by poisoning.

If you look at the fingernails of anyone who has been poisoned, they have white lines, or streaks of white, smokers have these very same lines/streaks.

Really? I never noticed that. I’ll need to pay closer attention. I guess you would know.

Say, I heard of something new…is it “e-cigarettes”? I don’t even know really what they are, would need to research it. Some people on CAF swear they help. Something to consider.

 

[andrewstx]

Smoking is not a good idea at all and is very harmful to the body.

I do not believe it is necessarily a sin though- especially when it becomes addictive- which it certainly is for most smokers.

My mother has COPD and will die as a result of smoking and she continues to smoke. I am not a fan of the tobacco industry, but I don not believe that smoking is sinful per se.

My Mother had COPD as well but she gave cigarettes up, but too late. Her husband, my step father died of lung cancer when he was only 44yo.

Even though he gave up stinkyrettes when he got cancer, mom only gave them up when she got COPD years later. She would sit right next to him, smoking.

Addiction is indeed a terrible thing, but it can be overcome instead of being given in to.

 

[Jack007]

I think that it may be, but I wonder if it is sometimes more than venial in certain circumstances.

Like, if a smoker insists on smoking next to someone’s oxygen tank in the ICU, like I actually saw years ago before we had laws, I wonder if it’s still venial, if the person knowingly does this, doesn’t care whether that person lives or dies.

I’ve had where my sister had Raynaud’s Disease, and my family would ask at a public event for her to refrain from smoking due to my sister’s health problem. She wouldn’t. When a person knows it could have even worse consequences, doesn’t care, continues to smoke inspite of pleads to stop, where one person could put another in the hospital, I wonder if those circumstances could change the sin into a mortal sin.

Well, sometimes smokers kill not only themselves but other people. When their second-hand smoke kills another person, and they refuse to stop, I can’t help but wonder if it’s then a mortal sin.

actually the cases you said can be considered as attempted murder so it is a mortal sin in itself. and yes, circumstances can change gravity of sin.

 

[ringil]

My Mother had COPD as well but she gave cigarettes up, but too late. Her husband, my step father died of lung cancer when he was only 44yo.

Even though he gave up stinkyrettes when he got cancer, mom only gave them up when she got COPD years later. She would sit right next to him, smoking.

Addiction is indeed a terrible thing, but it can be overcome instead of being given in to.

I think that for some who have been diagnosed with COPD- which will kill them if something else doesn’t- some resign themselves. They don’t know or care enough that quitting will extend the life they have.

I used to make me made about my mom, and it still annoys me that her husband buys them for her, but it is beyond my control.

It is sad though.

I want her to take up that vaping stuff, but she wont even do that.

 

[Tomster]

Ive smoked almost ten years now and havent been able to stop. Does the Catholic church see this as inherently sinful? If so is it a grave sin? Ive always referred to this verse when my conscience tells me no. I’m interested in additional opinions.

Matthew 15:11 KJV

Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

Well, it is a well documented fact that Pope St. John XXIII smoked like a chimney. I believe his choice of cigarettes were a strong, unfiltered Turkish blend. :hey_bud:

Personally, I prefer a nice panatela after a good home cooked meal. (Outdoors, of course!)

 

[CHRISTINE77]

It’s not a sin, but it is a really bad habit. I quit smoking 6 years ago and I have never been happier with a decision. Cigarettes are costly, they stink, and they are bad for your health. Yes it is hard to quit, but today there are many many ways to ease the transition into non smoking. I used nicotine lozenges. They take away the urge when you are feeling like smoking, and gradually you will wean yourself off of them. I think e-cigarettes are another great way to quit.

You will be so much happier with yourself once you klck the habit. (I also prayed a lot for God’s help.)

 

[Scottgun]

We live in the age of the “cult of the body”. It is right that some here posted the relevant Catechism section on moderation that includes “the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine.”, which tells us that tobacco use in and of itself is not sinful. But since so many try to smuggle it in to the sin category by arguing that it is gravely unhealthy in any amount (which is spurious), we ought to look at the section just before it (my emphasis),

2289 If morality requires respect for the life of the body, it does not make it an absolute value. It rejects a neo-pagan notion that tends to promote the cult of the body, to sacrifice everything for its sake, to idolize physical perfection and success at sports. By its selective preference of the strong over the weak, such a conception can lead to the perversion of human relationships.

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.

In short, neo-paganism is much more dangerous to the soul than smoking qua smoking will ever be.

 

[cargau]

Although I don’t smoke I’ve had the same question. I’d say smoking infringes the 5th Commandment of God: “You shall not kill”, because smoking may cause serious health damage. I think the 5th commandment relates with the care we should take for our health; not just about “killing”. I’d say you could consult a priest if in your case your responsibility is minor while you’re able to change this habit; in case that you have a strong purpose to leave smoking.

The Church has not related smoking to a violation of the 5th commandment. The Church has not related eating red meat, candy or drinking soda to the 5th commandment and those can affect one’s health, too.

I find this topic to be fairly useless since there are really two camps. One that acknowledges the health hazard for what it is and are willing to abide by the Church’s position and the other that tries to impose their own bias because they don’t like it.

 

[Jack007]

The Church has not related smoking to a violation of the 5th commandment. The Church has not related eating red meat, candy or drinking soda to the 5th commandment and those can affect one’s health, too.

I find this topic to be fairly useless since there are really two camps. One that acknowledges the health hazard for what it is and are willing to abide by the Church’s position and the other that tries to impose their own bias because they don’t like it.

the church has related eating red meat,candy and soda sinful if you have some health condition that will be worsened …

 

[GenerationZ]

I think people who are trying to downplay the severity of the obvious sin of smoking are individuals who have smoked at some point in their lives and are trying to rationalize their sin in order to let themselves off the hook. At least that is my impression.

Smoking a cigarette will never have a positive impact on one’s health. Certainly God is displeased by the disgusting habit. Every puff stains the lungs as it stains the soul. If we don’t condemn behavior that is clearly destructive on a physical and spiritual level, then how can we condemn any behavior at all?

We can at least all agree that the tobacco industry is sinful and destructive, since it profits off the slow decay of its addictive customers. So even if smoking itself was not a sin, buying a pack of smokes would indisputably be a sin, since it directly aids cooperations that peddle death and destruction.

Anyone with a conscience should refrain from smoking. It’s really that simple.

 

[andrewstx]

The Church has not related smoking to a violation of the 5th commandment. The Church has not related eating red meat, candy or drinking soda to the 5th commandment and those can affect one’s health, too.

I find this topic to be fairly useless since there are really two camps. One that acknowledges the health hazard for what it is and are willing to abide by the Church’s position and the other that tries to impose their own bias because they don’t like it.

I think it is very possible just by the posts to tell which posters and smokers, and which are not.

Both of my parents died from cigarettes, and I personally have COPD from years of exposure to tobacco smoke. You may scream loudly about your supposed “right” to smoke. But you will not smoke close to me. Go somewhere else to get your “fix”, please. My step dad who died from lung cancer during the hey-day of pot, always carried on about what he called ‘junkies’. But it was he who was the junkie, the man could not even make it through church without a ‘stinkyrette’ break!

Just today I went to my Dr. for a flu shot. And sure enough there was a young female (no lady she) who had a cig in her mouth while holding her tiny baby. Nearly as bad as abortion, but slower.

Someone said that smoking in any amount is not unhealthy. Another smoker no doubt. But who can smoke in small amounts? It starts with a cig when you have a beer, then packages and then by the carton, you are addicted.

I knew a man who was buying 2-3 cartons a week. Guess how he ended up?

 

[Jack007]

Someone said that smoking in any amount is not unhealthy. Another smoker no doubt.

That is like saying a person killed with a longer sword dies “more”.

 

[Midwest88]

Someone said that smoking in any amount is not unhealthy. Another smoker no doubt.

People who share addictions or bad habits tend to defend the bad habit and therefore the person addicted. Then there are those who are "if you don’t (physically) hurt anyone … "

 

[andrewstx]

People who share addictions or bad habits tend to defend the bad habit and therefore the person addicted. Then there are those who are "if you don’t (physically) hurt anyone … "

Boy am I aware of that fact. I also know that smokers tend to hang out in packs. (sorry)

There are local restaraunts where the cigarette junkies like to hang. Not to eat but to chain smoke and drink gallons, vats of coffee. I don’t understand how places like that survive without selling food, but they do. Perhaps it is the bar in the back of the place?