It Is Normally Sinful for an Underage Wisconsin Catholic Farm Boy to Regularly Use Chewing Tobacco

I look forward to, what I am sure will be, one of the weirdest debates I've yet to partake in. I wish tbhidc good luck. And with the pleasantries completed I will begin my arguments. HealthHealth problems associated with smokeless tobacco: [8]• Addiction• Cancer - esophagal, mouth, throat, cheek, gums, lips tongue, pancreatic and kidney• Cavities• Gum Disease• Heart Disease• Precancerous mouth lesionsArgumentsThere are two main arguments to be put forth on in this debate:1) Is it sinful for someone who is underage in Wisconsin to use use tobacco;2) Is it sinful to regularly use chewing tobacco.1. Underage Usage of TobaccoWisconsin Statute 254.92(2): [9](2) No person under 18 years of age may purchase, attempt to purchase, or possess any cigarette, nicotine product, or tobacco product except as follows:a)A person under 18 years of age may purchase or possess cigarettes, nicotine products, or tobacco products for the sole purpose of resale in the course of employment during his or her working hours if employed by a retailer. b)A person under 18 years of age, but not under 15 years of age, may purchase, attempt to purchase or possess cigarettes, nicotine products, or tobacco products in the course of his or her participation in an investigation unders.254.916that is conducted in accordance withs.254.916 (3). So according to the law no person under 18 may purchase, attempt to purchase or possess chewing tobacco. Wisconsin Statute254.92(2m): [9](2m)No person may purchase cigarettes, tobacco products, or nicotine products on behalf of, or to provide to, any person who is under 18 years of age. Any person who violates this subsection may be:items a) through d) list a variety of fines for breaking the above law. So we can also note that the intent of the law is that the underage cannot have access to tobacco by circumventing Statute 254.92(2). Now that the illegality of the underage obtaining chewing tobacco has been established we must establish the sinfulness of breaking the law within the Catholic Faith. The 4th CommandmentHonour thy Father and thy Mother not only applies to your physical parents, but also to authorities in Civil Society. As stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC): [10]2234 God's fourth commandment also enjoins us to honor all who for our good have received authority in society from God. It clarifies the duties of those who exercise authority as well as those who benefit from it.2238 Those subject to authority should regard those in authority as representatives of God, who has made them stewards of his gifts:"Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution. . .. Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God. "Their loyal collaboration includes the right, and at times the duty, to voice their just criticisms of that which seems harmful to the dignity of persons and to the good of the community.2240 Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one's country:Pay to all of them their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. [Christians] reside in their own nations, but as resident aliens. They participate in all things as citizens and endure all things as foreigners. . .. They obey the established laws and their way of life surpasses the laws. . .. So noble is the position to which God has assigned them that they are not allowed to desert it. The Apostle exhorts us to offer prayers and thanksgiving for kings and all who exercise authority, "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. "Now Catholics do not have to follow unjust laws that force a Catholic to act in a way contrary to the Catholic Faith or to Natural Law.2242 The citizen is obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or the teachings of the Gospel. Refusing obedience to civil authorities, when their demands are contrary to those of an upright conscience, finds its justification in the distinction between serving God and serving the political community. "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. " "We must obey God rather than men"This places the burden on Pro to show that the law is fundamentally unjust as Catholics are normatively required to follow the law. Thus I have clearly shown that the law requires those under 18 to avoid purchasing, attempting to purchase, having someone purchase on their behalf, or even possessing tobacco. The Church requires Catholics to adhere to civil law under the 4th commandment unless the law is fundamentally unjust. As the purpose of this law is to keep minors from substances which can significantly increase the occurrences of (previously listed) negative health consequences, I find it difficult to believe that this law can be deemed fundamentally immoral.2. Regular Use of TobaccoThe second contention being presented is whether the regular use of tobacco by underage people is sinful. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? - 1 Cor 6:19As saint Paul explained, your body and life are a gift to you. As a you are a baptized into the body of Christ you are responsible to care for the gifts that God the Father has entrusted to you. Now if you chew once is it a sin? No. You won't build up an addiction or suffer serious health concerns from a single use. But regular use creates addictions and threatens to damage the great Gift God has given. Even farm boys from Wisconsin are these days aware that tobacco use is associated with various diseases, and thus they are unable to argue ignorance. Now they may not believe it, or while they believe it, they may have the young male invincibility attitude that it will not be them who will suffer. However, they know the consequences and they deliberately partake in it. Thus since it has intent and knowledge the action may be sinful. Additionally, addictions create dependencies which may affect judgement. Thus voluntarily entering into an addiction is an occasion of sin, if not sinful itself. The Catholic Church believes that the principle of Double Effect [11] can describe whether an action is sinful or not. So we will employ the principle to see whether regular use of tobacco is sinful or not:a) Is the act itself morally good or morally indifferent? Yes. It is not innately bad to put chew in your mouth. b) The good effect must not be obtained by the evil effect. The "good" nicotine effects are not caused by the possible cancers, etc. .. It may have something to do with the addiction, but for the sake of argument - Yes. c) The evil effect must not be intended. Yes. Nobody chews with the intent of being addicted or getting cancer. d) Is the good effect greater than or equal to the evil effect? No. The chances for addiction, cancer, heart disease, etc. .. far outweigh the unnecessary short term buzz that your average underage chewer seeks. Thus according to the Principle of Double Effect "normal" regular use of chewing tobacco is a sinful act. ConclusionI have clearly shown that, according to Catholicism, the topic of the debate has been affirmed in 2 different manners. Chewing tobacco is an unnecessary danger to the chewer that needlessly damages the great gift of life given by God. Christ told us to render unto Caesar, can Catholics do less than to follow the instructions of Jesus? I invite Con to give great consideration to these arguments. I look forward to his rebuttal. Sources[8] . http://tinyurl.com...[9] . http://tinyurl.com...[10] . http://tinyurl.com...[11] . http://tinyurl.com...