Is it a mortal to sin excessively smoke cigarettes?

[Ave Maria]

Hey everyone. I am concerned that I may have committed a mortal sin by smoking cigarettes excessively. I have been doing so lately because I am very stressed out and fearful about the storms we are going to have today. They are forecasting the possibility of tornadoes as well as damaging winds, large hail, frequent lightning, and other such things that really scare me a lot. Anyway, I noticed these two passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The second one really concerns me as I don't know if they are talking about all drugs such as tobacco or just illegal drugs:

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.

2291 The use of drugs inflicts very grave damage on human health and life. Their use, except on strictly therapeutic grounds, is a grave offense. Clandestine production of and trafficking in drugs are scandalous practices. They constitute direct co-operation in evil, since they encourage people to practices gravely contrary to the moral law.

So anyway, is smoking cigarettes excessively a mortal sin? Also, if it is a grave sin, does my addiction and fear reduce my culpability to where it may not be a mortal sin. I am also very scrupulous and two priests plus a former spiritual director told me it is very difficult for me to commit a mortal sin due to my mental illness. Would my mental illness further reduce my culpability? Anyway, any answers on this question would be very much appreciated. I want to make sure I am in a state of grace since there is so much danger in the storms we are supposed to have today. Plus, I want to be in a state of grace at all times anyway out of love for God.

 

[Brooklyn Knight]

I could see it as being a mortal sin. It's an addiction and how many smokers are in control of their nicotine habit? Actually, that's what gets a lot of people hooked on it: They can control it at first, but the more they smoke, the more they're getting hooked on it.

However, if you're max is like half-a-pack or less, you should be golden. A plethora of priests in my neighborhood enjoy a smoke once in a while, and they most certainly don't turn down good vodka if someone is offering.

On a good day, I'll smoke a pack. On a bad day (When I'm ticked off, have too much to do, my sports team is playing, drinking a few too many), I'll encroach 2 packs +.

I'll light a candle in hopes that the storm passes by without doing any serious damage.

God bless.

 

[Ave Maria]

I could see it as being a mortal sin. It's an addiction and how many smokers are in control of their nicotine habit? Actually, that's what gets a lot of people hooked on it: They can control it at first, but the more they smoke, the more they're getting hooked on it.

However, if you're max is like half-a-pack or less, you should be golden. A plethora of priests in my neighborhood enjoy a smoke once in a while, and they most certainly don't turn down good vodka if someone is offering.

On a good day, I'll smoke a pack. On a bad day (When I'm ticked off, have too much to do, my sports team is playing, drinking a few too many), I'll encroach 2 packs +.

I'll light a candle in hopes that the storm passes by without doing any serious damage.

God bless.

Thanks Brooklyn Knight. So, do you think I have committed a mortal sin by smoking excessively?

 

[Brooklyn Knight]

Thanks Brooklyn Knight. So, do you think I have committed a mortal sin by smoking excessively?

How much do you smoke?

 

[Ave Maria]

How much do you smoke?

Unfortunately I have smoked about two packs within the past 24 hours which is very unusual for me. Usually I only smoke one pack a day. But I have been very scared about the storms lately, plus I have mental illness, am scrupulous, and am addicted to cigarettes. Doesn't this reduce my culpability enough to where it is only a venial sin? That said, I did leave my spiritual director who is a priest a voice-mail asking him about whether or not I have committed a mortal sin. He will have an authoritative answer for me. I hope and pray I have not committed a mortal sin.

 

[Ave Maria]

I am going to go to Confession here in a minute just to make sure I am in a state of grace and I am throwing out the rest of my cigarettes so I don't commit this sin again.

 

[Brooklyn Knight]

Unfortunately I have smoked about two packs within the past 24 hours which is very unusual for me. Usually I only smoke one pack a day. But I have been very scared about the storms lately, plus I have mental illness, am scrupulous, and am addicted to cigarettes. Doesn't this reduce my culpability enough to where it is only a venial sin? That said, I did leave my spiritual director who is a priest a voice-mail asking him about whether or not I have committed a mortal sin. He will have an authoritative answer for me. I hope and pray I have not committed a mortal sin.

The only thing I can say is that smoking two packs due to fear might not be a problem, but you're still smoking a pack a day, which is still a little too high.

If it's any consolation, I smoke two packs a day almost every other day. I'm addicted to it and I can't function without it. The only time I can say I enjoy the taste of a good smoke is after dinner...that's it.

If you are like me, we're going to have to kick the habit or cut down on the quantity; no sugarcoating it: We're killing ourselves.

 

[Theofane]

Is it a mortal to sin excessively smoke cigarettes?

Considering the health consequences, I would say it is! To willfully destroy the body God gave you with the demon nicotine and other toxic chemicals seems sinful to me! I apologize if I come across as sanctimonious, but I don't approve of smoking. Christopher Hitchens died not too long ago from esophageal cancer, and he was an unrepetant chainsmoker. That man died a hideously slow death because of his foolish pride.

 

[Living in the Light]

Any addiction can be an impediment to your spiritual growth and I would give them up very soon. In my case, I quite smoking ten years ago and don't regret it. I feel so much more liberated. When smoking, there was always this nagging feeling that I had to have another cigarette. It was especially bad when I was in situations where cigarettes were prohibited.

 

[Ave Maria]

Hey everyone. Thanks for your input from both you Theofane and Living in the Light. That said, I just got back from Confession and Mass.

EDIT TO ADD: I also decided that I am going to quit smoking. I decided that before I went to Confession. I am not going to touch a single cigarette from now on with God's grace. I made a promise to Him not to smoke any longer.

 

[Living in the Light]

Praying for you Ave! Get past the first two weeks and your home free. Use mints and toothpicks to fill the void. God will help you.

 

[Starlightsobright]

Praying for you.

 

[Humble Pie]

I guess I should say I'm not a Catholic Christian, I'm a protestant Christian but I went through same thing and know how awful quitting feels. I first tried to quit 20 years ago and can remember clear as if it were yesterday how hard it was. I eventually stopped after praying that the Holy Spirit would help me and I listened to a Joyce meyer audio on "breaking the cycle of addictions" that I think catholics could listen to without a problem. Personally I think nicotine replacement therapy is a huge help too. I tried the patches and they helped for a few weeks but in the end the gum suited me more.

I've been smoke free for 2 years now, thanks be to God

btw, the worst day is day #1, then got easier with time. Something I would do during bad cravings was have a smoke (just 1!) so I didn't drive myself insane thinking about it. I did this occasionally until the desire left me. It worked in the long run.

 

[Theofane]

I've heard that nicotine is the most fiendishly addictive substance known to man.

 

[Brooklyn Knight]

I've heard that nicotine is the most fiendishly addictive substance known to man.

Morphine and heroine say hello.

 

[phishin4min]

Hey everyone. I am concerned that I may have committed a mortal sin by smoking cigarettes excessively. I have been doing so lately because I am very stressed out and fearful about the storms we are going to have today. They are forecasting the possibility of tornadoes as well as damaging winds, large hail, frequent lightning, and other such things that really scare me a lot. Anyway, I noticed these two passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The second one really concerns me as I don't know if they are talking about all drugs such as tobacco or just illegal drugs:



So anyway, is smoking cigarettes excessively a mortal sin? Also, if it is a grave sin, does my addiction and fear reduce my culpability to where it may not be a mortal sin. I am also very scrupulous and two priests plus a former spiritual director told me it is very difficult for me to commit a mortal sin due to my mental illness. Would my mental illness further reduce my culpability? Anyway, any answers on this question would be very much appreciated. I want to make sure I am in a state of grace since there is so much danger in the storms we are supposed to have today. Plus, I want to be in a state of grace at all times anyway out of love for God.

no just unhealthy

 

[MikeK]

Uning tobacco is not a mortal sin. Chain-smoking with the intent of harming one's body would be, but that doesn't sound like the case here.

But for the occasional bummed smoke at a bar (which is relatively rare, now that the getapo has banninated it) I quit smoking 7 years ago. I'm glad I quit....but if I found out that I was terminally ill or that the world was ending soon-ish, you better believe I'd start up again. Smoking isn't worth the long-term health risks, but it sure is enjoyable.

 

[Ernst Junger]

best of luck. You'll feel kind of woozy for about 3 days (but surprisingly good; basically you are light-headed because your brain isn't used to having so much oxygen up there). You'll be hungry as well. You'll probably gain 5-15 pounds, and thats okay; in a few months when your lung functions return to normal, you can lose it no problem. At the end of 2 weeks, 1 month, and three months you'll get huge cravings but they'll pass. If you make it three months, your home free. Just remeber, either you quit forever, or you smoke forever; total abstinence is your best option. Also remeber after you quit smoking, that your first pack doesn't even taste good, it only gets good once you are re-addicted.

Also, saving $3,000 a year is pretty cool.

 

[InnerPhyre]

Quit! Find something that works for you...the patch, the gum, e-cigarettes...or better yet, find someone to quit with and do it! It's the best thing you can do for your health. Cigarettes WILL kill you. You will be amazed once you've quit for a month how much better you will feel. I quit smoking 5 years ago, thank God, and I don't even know now, looking back, how I enjoyed those disgusting things so much.

 

[phishin4min]

I've never met one smoker that said "man I'm sure glad I started smoking"