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fabio_rocha
Guest
Whats the difference?
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1ke
Guest
I think you need to explain in more detail. What is your question?
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MidnightSun12
Guest
In my opinion, it’s the same reason why it’s OK to wear a swim-suit at a swimming pool, but to walk down main-street wearing a swim-suit when everybody else is fully-clothed could be a sin of immodesty.
In a society where everybody wears ear-rings and wears makeup, I can’t see how prudently accessorizing yourself with these things would be sinful in and of themselves. That said, when people start wearing excessive amounts of makeup to attract attention to themselves or if they start piercing parts of their body and getting tattoos specifically to get noticed, then this very much seems like the sin of vanity and possibly even scandal (since such deliberate self-expression can often be used to incite lust among those around him/her).
In a society where everybody wears ear-rings and wears makeup, I can’t see how prudently accessorizing yourself with these things would be sinful in and of themselves. That said, when people start wearing excessive amounts of makeup to attract attention to themselves or if they start piercing parts of their body and getting tattoos specifically to get noticed, then this very much seems like the sin of vanity and possibly even scandal (since such deliberate self-expression can often be used to incite lust among those around him/her).
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Listener
Guest
I guess I have just lived too long, but when I was growing up in the 1950’s, I believe that getting a tattoo was supposed to be a mortal sin. It was considered mutilation of your body, which is a temple of the Holy Spirit.
Does anyone else remember this? You sure don’t hear much about it these days. That said, tattoos give me the creeps, and I can’t stand to look at them. Also, I don’t like to be waited on with anyone who has their nose or tongue pierced. It just gives me the creeps. Of course, I’m polite and never say anything, but it gives me the creeps just the same.
As far as piercing your ears is concerned, it’s just a tiny pin hole, and it is very socially acceptable in our society. Also, have you ever worn a pair of earrings designed for people without pierced ears? Very painful!
While I’m on my soapbox, all of those women who had multiple face lifts (who used to show up on Oprah once in awhile) gave me the creeps, too. I thought they were ugly and had ruined their faces.
Does anyone else remember this? You sure don’t hear much about it these days. That said, tattoos give me the creeps, and I can’t stand to look at them. Also, I don’t like to be waited on with anyone who has their nose or tongue pierced. It just gives me the creeps. Of course, I’m polite and never say anything, but it gives me the creeps just the same.
As far as piercing your ears is concerned, it’s just a tiny pin hole, and it is very socially acceptable in our society. Also, have you ever worn a pair of earrings designed for people without pierced ears? Very painful!
While I’m on my soapbox, all of those women who had multiple face lifts (who used to show up on Oprah once in awhile) gave me the creeps, too. I thought they were ugly and had ruined their faces.
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Reep
Guest
While I understand the possibilities of vanity and attracting attention, I tend to care little whether people are ahead of (or behind) the fashion/ornamentation curve–at least when the conduct is not immodest.
I wince when our deacon gives his sermon chastising people for wearing casual clothes to mass. Sorry, its nobody’s business whether I wear a shirt and tie. What are you doing at mass that you would even notice! I consider the busybodyism of those who get exercised over this business to be far more offensive.
I wince when our deacon gives his sermon chastising people for wearing casual clothes to mass. Sorry, its nobody’s business whether I wear a shirt and tie. What are you doing at mass that you would even notice! I consider the busybodyism of those who get exercised over this business to be far more offensive.
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Dale_M
Guest
Fabio, there is no Church teaching with regard to piercing, whether of the ear or of any other body part.
The Church does prohibit mutilation, but what constitutes mutilation is a matter of prudential judgment to be made by the individual, with the guidance of others.
The Church does prohibit mutilation, but what constitutes mutilation is a matter of prudential judgment to be made by the individual, with the guidance of others.
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tabycat
Guest
IMO, it’s less a case of what is on the outside (tattoos, earrings, casual clothes) then whats on the inside (suits and ties, no pants on women, skirts/dresses down past the knees). Some seem to think that God needs busybodys in church to tell Him who’s wearing what in church, and not on what they should be doing: Praying and Worshiping Him.
uch:
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Sandalwood
Guest
oh my gosh, I’m right there with you. To me, tattoos look dirty and all those piercings just seem painful and not very self-respectful. I think the most beautiful women are those who are aging naturally and as God intended. Can you imagine what all these young people are going to look like with all their holes and sagging tattoos when they get older?
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MidnightSun12
Guest
I respectfully disagree. When we are in the Lord’s home we have a duty to show respect and reverence. If you were told that you were going to be meeting the queen of England tomorrow, would you wear dress clothes for the occaison? If you would, then you should at the very least be dressing with dignity for presentation to our Lord since He is the king of the queen of England!
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MtnDwellar
Guest
Hmmm.
How quickly the topic of the thread can change!
How quickly the topic of the thread can change!
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ivebeenshown
Guest
I would say that unless the piercing is inherently dangerous or a threat to health, it is morally neutral, but if it could cause scandal, then it should be avoided. In India a nose piercing seems acceptable. In small town USA, maybe not so much.
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lifeandhope
Guest
When I see people at Mass with tattoos, I don’t think much of it because they may be new converts or something. But the one thing that I cannot handle is those things in the ear that expand the skin into these huge, huge circles. The girl at Subway the other day had holes the size of golf balls–I had to look away. Ewwww.
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Qoeleth
Guest
Leviticus 19:28 prohibits tattoos.
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thunderboom
Guest
A lot of it is cultural.
“When I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ she answered, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, borne to Nahor by Milcah.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists. Then I bowed down in worship to the LORD, blessing the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to obtain the daughter of my master’s kinsman for his son.” Genesis 24:47-48.
BTW, I happen to think a pretty girl with a nose piercing is that much more attractive. Of course, I was born in the early 90’s, so I grew up with it all around me
.
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TheDoctor
Guest
We are no longer under Levitical law. If we were, you could not wear clothing with two different fabrics. There is no Church prohibition against tattoos.
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TheDoctor
Guest
By the way, to the OP, where does the Church say “no” to piercings please?
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Qoeleth
Guest
If done for decorative porposes, it is desecration of the flesh for no other purposes than vanity.
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TheDoctor
Guest
That depends on the tattoo and your definition of desecration, e.g. a tattoo of the blessed mother done to show devotion or a tattoo of Christ on the Cross done to show devotion would not be a desecration. The Church has no prohibition on tattoos, just as she has no prohibition on number of earrings or nail polish color or eye makeup. It is a matter of local culture and individual taste and decorum.
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Qoeleth
Guest
Sure, if it a religious symbol- maybe it would be a form of evangalisation.
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Dale_M
Guest
If you wish to believe that, okay. But that is not the teaching of the Catholic Church.
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