Custom is the reason that use of tobacco is sinless, but use of marijuana is sinful. Custom is the reason that polygamy was allowed in the Old Testament, but not now. Custom is the reason that lying and deception may be morally legitimate in warfare, games or sports, but not in other areas of life. Custom may make the same action legal or illegal according to where and when it is practiced.
The Code of Canon Law, (available online), codifies the practical matters of Catholic doctrine. The theology of baptism appears in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, but the requirements of who may administer it, and who may receive 131 Police officers are commonly called upon to make a similar decision, to use deadly force to stop an active, deadly threat. If a shooter is shot in such an encounter, the police officer may not use force beyond that which is necessary. The intent is never to kil the offender, but to end the threat.
This type of moral teaching is used in all police and military training.
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it is detailed in the Code of Canon Law. The topic of custom appears in canons 23-28.
In brief, custom may become religiously lawful behavior if existing for at least thirty years, and approved of by those who determine religious law, (Pope, council, local Bishop). Custom is also used to interpret existing laws, (Canon 27).
Let’s examine some of the customs mentioned. Tobacco
is poisonous, addictive, and has no medical value, it’s use was customary long before any of this was known, tobacco use was allowed worldwide by religious authority. If tobacco use was an emerging custom today, it would not likely gain approval.
Marijuana is an emerging custom; it too is habit forming,
poisonous, and has no essential medical value, like tobacco…yet its use is considered sinful by the Catholic church.
Why the difference between essentially same products?
The reason is that Christianity is meant to be the final
step in humanities union with God, not just another form of
basic monotheism. Basic monotheism is largely a contract of
justice between God and man; Christianity takes this further
into a union and actual participation between God and man.
This union is not advanced by further selfish acts of self
stimulation, whether it be tobacco or marijuana.
If we are to examine any other past of current custom, we
must not propagate it, or expand upon it, if it promotes
selfishness, which is selfish stimulation is some form such as
power or pleasure which has no origin or end in God. At the
other end, any action which limits or denies God into our lives
such as hoarding, pessimism or atheism must also be