Are tattoo's a sin?

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spanky said:
For those opposed to tattoos:

Do you think there are some images that would be acceptable to display on one’s body? I don’t have one myself but have thought of getting the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on one arm and the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the other. Would you think that it was an abomination, a violation of my body as a temple of the Lord, or a pathetic cry out?

I think seeing these images on one’s body is quite refreshing as opposed to demons, dragons, nudity, profanity, etc.

Whenever i notice a Christian tattoo on someone, i sometimes comment on how much i like it and appreciate it and I’d love to proudly display these images to the world!

Any thoughts?
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I know how you feel as I’ve been considering this as well, although a different image. As for it being an abomination or violation of one’s body as the temple of the Holy Ghost, I disagree, if the tattoo is religious and not overdone. There are Saints who, while here on earth, had such a love for God that they would take a hot iron and write “Jesus” or “Mary” on their flesh. It’s permanently marking yourself as a Roman Catholic and showing that you’re not afraid of a little pain for that profession. As for it “mutilating” the body, as some have already said, well, to that I say that it was common practice for a religious to scourge himself for penance. I don’t see much difference. Since it’s not intrinsically evil, just be sure of your intentions and be sure not to “get into it.”
 
Have you ever pondered why you chose to get your arm tattoo, what statement you were trying to make,

I have one on my wrist, a symbol of a child I lost in his second trimester. It was a statement of grief. I have others on my ankle, symbolizing my living children. They are statements of joy.

that the body God gave you needed to be scarred with ink, was it painful??

Was it painful? No, not really. It was annoying after a while, like being scratched in the same place OVER and OVER and OVER again. Giving birth was more painful.

How much
careful consideration did you give this choice?

More than a lot of people do when bringing children into the world! I spent a lot of time planning the designs, because they were based on the personalities of my children at the time they were done.

Will you always be satisfied that your arm bears this mark while you are alive?

Without a doubt.

No shop will do a child. In some instances, an underage teen (sadly), but it would get them arrested to ink a child. There are tattoos that are drawn on and are very realistic… perhaps this is what you saw?
 
This was taken with my camera phone right a few days after I got it done, so the quality isn’t great, but here’s mine:

The three flowers represent my brother and sister and myself, and the butterfly represents the child that my mom had before me that died prematurely. It’s on the upper half of my right thigh, so it’s always covered (unless I’m down at the beach and am actually wearing shorts). I plan on getting a second one of a Canterbuy cross as soon as I get the money for it. That one will most likely go on my shoulder, again because it’s easy to cover. But I’ve never actually seen anyone else with a Canterbury cross tattoo, so I imagine if people see it it could be a conversation starter. After that though, I’m not getting anymore. I really would have no reason to get a third one. And I NEVER understood tattooing a significant other’s name!!! What happens if you break up!!!

Like others have said, there’s no official Church teaching that getting a tattoo is wrong, but some designs you might want to avoid.
 
grotto said:
Not without going to a lot of trouble but I’ll give you a clue to search references if you like - try criminal psychiatry - its not a new theory so there is probably much info out there.
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…hmmmm…I have a tattoo and so does dh…mine is a rose and his is our dd name…we are a devoutly Catholic family that can be found in Church every Sunday and participate in the Sacrements. We homeschool our daughter (we even purchase all of her curiculm from a Catholic hs), neither of us has so much has had a speeding ticket, so that theory can be tossed…🤷 :rolleyes: 🤷
 
I have a tattoo that I got back in 1971. Its the Marine Corps mascot, a bull dog, wearing a DI’s hat, with the letters, USMC under it.

You can still clearly see the USMC, but the bull dog has faded into a black almost indistinguishable blot. This is how all tattoos end up. Oh and don’t give me “the ink they use today is better,” it has nothing to do with the ink. I’ve seen younger guys with tattoos they got 10 years ago, and there already starting to fade, just as they all do.

My advise, better off not getting a tattoo. Unless of course, if you’re a Marine and its a Marine Corps tattoo 😃

Jim
 
Most people don’t realize that tattoos require some maintenence. Depending on how well you take care of them (keeping sun exposure in check, moisturising the skin, etc) they can go anywhere from a couple of years to a decade or more without anything beyond basic care. After that, they should be retouched. Most artists will do this for signifigantly less than the cost of the original tattoo. But this is really the only way to keep a 10 year old piece of art from looking like a blob.

Also, the smaller the piece, the sooner “blobage” is to show up.
 
DrewC said:
Hey guys. Im sure this question has been asked a million times on here but im not sure as what to think on the debate on tattoos. My godparents tell me that its a violation of the fifth commandment to get a tattoo. Ive also heard its a sin because the body is a temple of The Holy Spirit. Ive also heard the other point of views that its not a sin. I have been wanting to get a tattoo of a cross or something realitive to our Catholic faith, but am afraid it is a sin. The last thing I want to do is to offend God but Im up in the air as to weather its a sin or not. Whats your thoughts on this?
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I do not believe that tatoos are sinful. They just are permanent and can look bad.

dstrevel/gmail:thumbsup:
 
My recommendation for tattoos is to listen to the arguments of those who condemn it and not listen to the people who are in favor of it. This is not because I agree with the arguments against tattoos, but because those are the things you need to be perceptive of. Is it displeasing for YOU to get tattoo in the sight of God?

People who are for tattoos generally do not have “reasons” for getting them. Their “argument” consists of stamping their feet like a little child and simply asking “Why not?”

Our society has many little nuances and sublte shades of meanings and contexts behind all the symbols we use. Tattoos carry with them many meanings that you simply need to examine in your own heart. If you truly think that the tattoo you are getting is FOR CHRIST, then get it. If not, don’t.

Most of all, do not be confused by those muddled arguments about “physical” and “spiritual” laws. The physical and spiritual are interlinked more deeply than we know. Thus, those who say Christ is only focused on the “spiritual” are merely trying to get away with a whole bunch of “physical” indiscretions. They are being as legalistically pharisaical about the spiritual law as the Phraisees were about the physical laws.

Take that for what its worth. The important point that’s been made in this forum is the Church has not condemned tattoos INHERENTLY. That does not, however, justify getting one. Good luck!
 
I would not say tattoos in themselves are sinful. However, I’m sure there are circumstances when the tattoo may become sinful. One needs to really think hard about why they are getting the tattoo and they need to realize that the will carry the tattoo on their body the rest of their lives.

I could easily see somebody getting a tattoo that really means something to them and have it in a discrete place. Like I think it great if someone wanted to get a tattoo of St. Benedict’s Medal or something.
 
Tattoo a Sin? Who makes this stuff up? God has a little more to be concerned about. Tell the family if a tattoo is a sin then so is the wearing of makeup, plastic surgery, earrings, hair pieces, transplants, and anything else that we do to our bodies. Is it sinful to be overweight? Tell the guys in Iraq who have tattoos that they are sinners even thought they put their lives on the line for country.

Too many people deem sinful anything that they personally don’t like.

By the way, I hate tattoos… but I also hate certain foods, music, etc.
 
I have a small tattoo on my right arm. It says “Jesus the Messiah” in Hebrew. I got it as a witness to my own faith but also because we belong to a jewish community center and it sparks conversations with people who would other wise not be willing to talk. Its amazing how many people ask me what it says.

matt
 
Is anybody reading the messages here? Nobody has concluded that tattoos are INHERENTLY sinful and neither has the church. That is not the issue being discussed right now.
 
I heard it on EWTN from the priest/apologetic himself. In and of itself it is NOT a sin to have a tattoo, lest it be of something that goes against the faith such as 666, a picture of satan etc… I. personally think it lends itself to immaturity and a need for attention. But that is strictly my opinion.

Sign me, a father of 4 children, bearer of 1 tattoo.
 
hamburglar said:
I would not say tattoos in themselves are sinful. However, I’m sure there are circumstances when the tattoo may become sinful. One needs to really think hard about why they are getting the tattoo and they need to realize that the will carry the tattoo on their body the rest of their lives.

I could easily see somebody getting a tattoo that really means something to them and have it in a discrete place. Like I think it great if someone wanted to get a tattoo of St. Benedict’s Medal or something.
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I agree. For most things the Church does not have a clear definitive ruling on, it usually goes to intent. So, if your intent is to have a mark to remind you or others you are a person of God and a Christian, make it a beautiful one.

One of my sons went into the Navy and got 2 tat’s; one was for a music group: CMT is the tat, stands for Cowboys from Hell. Definitely rebellious, IMO. Needless to say, he was not a faithful Catholic at the time. He went through a few yrs of a wild period, I guess one could say, but now is interested in the faith! He has several piercings too, but those can just grow over. He’s on a ship and I have had opportunity to teach him again (we homeschooled when he was younger), so that’s been a real blessing! I sincerely hope he gets connected to a parish when he returns to the US, which should be this month sometime.

When he got the CMT tat, I joked that it could mean “Catholic Means Truth” or something. He didn’t think it was funny… maybe now he’ll take me up on it. Perhaps he’ll just let it fade.

I recall that when I was 14 yo (in late '60’s), I wanted my ears pierced SO badly. My dad didn’t think it was right. He said I had to wait until I was 16, so I thought that was fair.

Tatooing hurts more than earlobe piercing. I wouldn’t want those stretched holes on my kids, though! Ugh!

God bless,
Mimi
 
mnowlin1 said:
I have a small tattoo on my right arm. It says “Jesus the Messiah” in Hebrew. I got it as a witness to my own faith but also because we belong to a jewish community center and it sparks conversations with people who would other wise not be willing to talk. Its amazing how many people ask me what it says.

matt
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That’s a COOL tat!!
It creates an opportunity to witness.
😃
Mimi
 
🙂
ComputerGeek25 said:
I don’t think the chruch takes an official stance on tattoo’s, but I would think common sense applies here. They are morally neutral, unless they are really distasteful in nature. (i.e. bad images, placement, etc).
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I would totally agree with you.
Chaiwan
 
Interesting thread.

Are tattoo’s a sin? Nope I think that has been pretty well defined.

What is a sin, are attitudes like grottos and other’s posting in that same frame of mind. It makes me wonder what particular Holy
Indulgence they have received to judge Gods children. Looking on
Other’s in a frame of mind as “dirty”, “ugly”, “low class” etc is a dangerous game. I know I for one would not put God to the test, nor Judge on his account in this way. (Which is what your doing like it or not) And stating you are “judgmental” by nature don’t cut it, it does not absolve you of this sin.

In fact I would consider addressing these at you next act of contrition.

I have three tat’s, all done while I was lost away from the Church. One is the cross of Lorraine, one is a heart with my daughter’s name, but one is my astrological symbol. That one
I consider “wrong” and have plans to have a cover-up done with a simple black Chi-Rho. They are in the “non-disclosure” area’s of the upper arm and lower calf.

If looked upon my over weight body in shorts and a tank top my long hair loosed, a gold ear ring in, and my scars (I have been stabbed twice, shot once) I imagine I can guess your “judgment” of me.

If you saw me at work in the court room with a suit, my hair neatly combed tightly back in a pony tail, and ear ring out, talking with other atty’s and Judge’s I bet your “judgment” of me would be quite different. (Oh, I smoke too, I have spent many a “smoke break” outside with judges and atty’s pulling up sleeve’s and pant leg’s showing their tattoos)

I can’t speak for God but by the gifts of Grace, Forgiveness, Faith, Hope, and Love he has bestowed on me lead me to believe he probably loves me. I know he loves you, and I love you. Please give my word’s some thought. GF
 
The Church has no stance and so I believe it is a matter of intent. JPIIs Theology of the Body should be applied in these cases and therefore we should think this through. To My mind the body art culture in North American started as a rebellious act. It was a “desecration”. You would see a beautiful girl who did not want to be seen as an “object” Tattoo her body, hoping that by this disfigurement those around her would see the “Real her”. Others still did it as a rejection of the corporal nature to emphasize the “spirit”. After the introduction into the culture from these sorts of folks it became more a fashion statement. The Church cannot take a stand because it has to consider the cultural context. There are many Cultures around the world, which use tattoos for different cultural reasons, (i.e. Betrothing etc).

So to answer the question " are tattoo’s a sin?" I would have to consider the context of the tattoo, if it is to deny the body then yes. If it were to emphasize the spirit over the body, I would say yes. For these are errors about our relationship with God. If the Tattoo is for Fashion… I would consider it ill advised, as fashion always changes, but it is probably not a sin. So within the context of the North American Culture I would discourage tattoo’s as a bad way to go about expressing ones self as it may lead others into error about the unity of the body and spirit. Which then impacts on peoples thinking on chastity. Anyway, Is it a sin in our culture…. MAYBE, Should it be done, NO!
 
Gregory_Francis said:
Interesting thread.

Are tattoo’s a sin? Nope I think that has been pretty well defined.

What is a sin, are attitudes like grottos and other’s posting in that same frame of mind. It makes me wonder what particular Holy
Indulgence they have received to judge Gods children. Looking on
Other’s in a frame of mind as “dirty”, “ugly”, “low class” etc is a dangerous game. I know I for one would not put God to the test, nor Judge on his account in this way. (Which is what your doing like it or not) And stating you are “judgmental” by nature don’t cut it, it does not absolve you of this sin.

In fact I would consider addressing these at you next act of contrition.
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That’s a pretty judgemental post in itself. Will it be in YOUR next confession?
 
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