Hi, I was just wondering cause I'm curious, do you know any smoking priest? I know a lot of priest and none of them smoke and I wonder if there is a special reason for that? Are they encourage not to smoke for another reason than health?

thanks for your opinion

-- Alexis Marcil (alexismarcil@hotmail.com), February 09, 2005

Answers

I know a lot of seminarians who smoke. Seminaries generally try to get them to quit before they're ordained (at least if it's a heavy cigarette habit), but it's not an impediment to ordination.

-- anon (ymous@hotmail.com), February 09, 2005.

If someone is intelligent and dedicated enough to become a priest, it is highly unlikely he will be stupid enough to smoke. Also very few priests would have enough spare cash to afford it these days. While the Church hasn't definitely declared smoking to be a sin, anyone who deliberately takes up smoking these days is knowingly creating serious damage to his health and the health of others. This would seem to breach our obligations to care for the bodies God gave us and to avoid physically harming others.

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), February 09, 2005.

I prefer that my pastor smokes. He's been smoking a pack a day for ten years and it keeps him happy. Every Lent he gives it up and then goes on a berserk firing spree around the parish and school.

It's sinful, how much he smokes, but I'd rather he not give it up than have another round of unfair firings this year.

-- brian (brian@brian.com), February 10, 2005.

“Every Lent he gives it up and then goes on a berserk firing spree around the parish and school.” Brian, have you considered the possibility that maybe his Lenten reflections each year (assisted by having a mind unclouded by carbon monoxide and undistracted by a hacking cough) gives him the perspicacity to see which employees are not suitable for a Catholic church and school and the fortitude to follow through with firing them?

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), February 10, 2005.