www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Question about smoking

Hello all,

I own and operate a shisha (hookah) lounge and as some customers have come to discover that I am a Byzantine Catholic, I have gotten some questions about the Church's stand on smoking (tobacco, of course, I'm quite sure I know the stand on illegal drugs). When I was first asked this I found myself a little speechless, as this question was not even on my 'radar' and I had never heard of this topic coming up in any of my discussions of religion with friends over the years (some of whom do smoke on occasion). The answer I first gave was that it is probably something akin to the stance on consuming alcohol (i.e., moderation is the key). I wasn't sure what else to say. The reason I thought to ask this question on this particular forum was that a group of Lebanese Maronites came in and we were discussing the issue (over some shisha smoking of course), and of course East/West issues cropped up (not over tobacco, by the way). So anyway, to make a long story short, I'm just curious about this issue and would love to hear some thoughts about it. I'm especially interested to see if there are any differences between Western and Eastern Christians on the issue of tobacco.

God Bless,
James Long

I've always heard that there is no sin attached. Unlike the reason drugs and alcohol are immoral due to intoxication, smoking would fall into the category of healthy practices. As far as I know there is now sin in eating real butter or bacon or drinking soda even though they can clog your arteries, cause obesity, and lead to diabetes. It's hard to put the 'in moderation' clause on cigarettes. Over half of smokers never see any real side effects so it is not like drinking to excess or drug use. Not to mention that how could it be said to be immoral if one smoked a pack of cigarettes one weekend and then never did again? What would be wrong with that?

Ho, Tom Bombadil!


It would be difficult, if not impossible, to defend that proposition in this present year of grace. Perhaps I should post some statements on the subject from the Old Ritualists, who unequivocally regard the use of tobacco as sinful.

Fr. Serge

Here is a sermon on the subject from the perspective of a Roman Catholic Traditionalist that I have come across before:

http://www.sensustraditionis.org/webaudio/Sermons/Disk5/Smoking.mp3

I too would like to learn about this from the Eastern perspective.

Father Serge, I would love to see those statements from the Old Ritualists.

When I have some time, I'll gladly translate the Old-Ritualist comments on tobacco.

Fr. Serge

Thank you ... very nice!!

Still, how would you know when smoking becomes harmful for one's body and thus becomes a mortal sin!
Unlike alcohol, usually one realizes that smoking is harmful for one's health when it's already too late!

It seems to me that there is an amount of smoking that is clearly moderate - say, less than one cigarette a day (this is no worse for your health than breathing the air in Los Angeles. Could it be a sin to live in Los Angeles? Maybe...) - and there is an amount of smoking that is clearly immoderate - say, more than a pack a day.

With a combination of common sense, examination of conscience, and perhaps a good talk with one's spiritual father, I believe one could decide what restrictions on this behavior are needed for the good of one's soul and body.

For whatever it is worth, the Catechism of the Catholic Church groups tobacco with food, alcohol, and medicine:


We're still no closer to an understanding of the Eastern perspective on this matter, however. This is one issue on which we cannot turn to the Early Fathers of the Church, as the custom of smoking tobacco wasn't known to them.

No one will be willing to sign a legal document stating that one cigarette a day is clearly 'moderate' and not harmful (will you?).
Your analogy with LA's polluted air is not valid in my humble opinion as there is a clear difference between the choice one makes to light a cigarette to inhale over 40 known cancer-causing toxic chemicals and the "choice" to breath polluted air.

As for the CCC, let us not forget that the "the letter killeth, but the spirit quickeneth." And please do correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think our fathers knew as much as we know today on the hazards of the modern well composed cigarette !

Relax, everything causes cancer.

Speaking of cancer, did you know that the incense we use in church contains carcinogens? Grains, nuts, peanut butter, grilled or barbecued meats, french fries, potato chips, salted fish, and alcoholic beverages all contain carcinogens. The gasoline we use in our cars exposes us to carcinogens every time we fill up.

The key is to enjoy these things in moderation. When I told my doctor that I smoke less than one cigarette a day, he said that I wasn't really a smoker and that amount isn't really anything to worry about. I do believe that amount of smoking is clearly moderate and would be happy to sign a document attesting to that belief.

As someone who quit smoking, by the grace of God, the issue for me was freedom. I was addicted to the (legal) drug, nicotine, that one gets from smoking. So, I was fasting from normal foods for the freedom of the Gospel, but I was still going outside every 2 - 4 hours to get my (legal) drug fix. The contradiction seemed hypocritical to me. So, with God's grace (and the self-discipline built up by fasting), I quit. It has been two years now, thanks be to God.

-- John

Dear John,

You have received a genuine grace. Keep praying that it may not be lost.

Fr. Serge

Over half of those who spin the barrel suffer no adverse effects from Russian Roulette, but that hardly suggests that it's a safe practice, even for one-time players . . .

Yes, but it's like saying drinking four beers for me is a sin because it's enough to get my wife blasted.

Father John Corapi, who is by any standard "traditional", would disagree with you. According to him, 50 or 100 years ago, when the effects of smoking were either unknown, misunderstood, etc, it would have not been sin (or at the most venial).. now that we know scientifically that smoking harms you, those around you, and perhaps even those who are around items which you are around when you smoke, Father John today considers smoking to be a sin.

In the drinking example you provide - yes, it would be a sin if your drinking lead to another person who neither intends to drink nor wants the effect to be affected. Not to mention even if not "a sin" it could also be "an occasion of sin".

Somewhat to my amazement, I find myself in agreement with Father John on the matter of smoking.

Fr. Serge