Tatoos

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What is the Catholic Church’s stance on tatoos? And another related question: are men with tatoos allowed in the priesthood?
 
BrooklynBoy200 said:
What is the Catholic Church’s stance on tatoos? And another related question: are men with tatoos allowed in the priesthood?
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I have never heard of a stance on tatoos.

Remember they are a permanent reminder of a temporary fad or feeling.

I believe men with tattoos would be allowed in to the priesthood. Perhaps if the tattoo said something like “Spawn of Satan”, he should have it removed, however.
 
or at least have the tat covered with a nice crucifix. i believe removal is quite expensive
 
i’m thinking about getting a tattoo of 6 pack abs on my belly so i don’t look so fat anymore.👍
 
My fiance has a rosary tattoo around here ankle. I didn’t want her to get one but when I found out it was something that symbolized her faith, I told to go ahead.
 
If tattoos are “frowned upon”, I’m in big trouble. :eek:
I have a flower garden on my lower back and a virgo symbol in the middle of my back.
Granted, all of it is hidden on a day to day basis so no one sees it except my hubby. 😃
 
Whether or not to get inked is one of the many decisions that the Church leaves to our own individual judgment. I think it falls under St. Augustine’s dictum: “Love God and do what you please.”

I’m not urging anyone to get a tattoo. You may regret it in a few years. Still, I read a Catholic News Service story some years ago about a young guy who was so grateful to his Jesuit teachers that he had the Jesuit motto (A.M.D.G.) tattooed on his upper arm. :cool: (A.M.D.G. are the initials for Ad maiorem Dei gloriam, or “For the greater glory of God.”)

I’ve *thought *about getting a tattoo of St. Michael the Archangel body-slamming the Devil, or a replica of Maximus’s tattoo in the flick Gladiator: SPQR (the initials for Senatus populusque Romanus, or “The Senate and the Roman people”).

If you insist on getting a tattoo, make sure that the tattoo artist doesn’t use ink that has already been used on someone else. And, if you get a Latin tattoo, make sure that it’s correct Latin!

Keep and spread the Faith. *Vires et honestas *(“Strength and honor”–the motto of Maximus and his troops).
 
quasimodo said:
I have never heard of a stance on tatoos.

Remember they are a permanent reminder of a temporary fad or feeling.
.
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Well, certainly alot of tatoos fit that criteria, certainly at the present time. However, I would say, that some tatoos are obtained for reasons that transcend those reasons. Certainly any military person who got a tatoo commerating their unit is probably doing it for more than a temporary sentiment.

–
Bill
 
Yeah if tattoo’s are a big no-no I’m in big trouble. The OT says not to do it, but then again the OT says not to do a lot of stuff that we do today. Plus I remember reading in Exodus the people being told to remove rings from their ears, so I would think that marking or cutting oneself.

I was in the Marines for five years so I’m basically covered in my upper body with random tattoos. I plan on getting a sacred heart tattoed over a dragon on my chest that is faded, and possibly an Our Lady of Guadalupe tattooed on my forearm.

I think tattoos that show your faith aren’t a bad thing. Tattooing isn’t for everyone, people either love it or hate it.
 
BrooklynBoy200 said:
What is the Catholic Church’s stance on tatoos? And another related question: are men with tatoos allowed in the priesthood?
Click to expand...
I believe there is no absolute prohibition. That said, one might think very conservatively about stamping oneself with anything that cannot be removed and that might be unbecoming in the future.

I like your second question. Respect for the body as God made it would militate against mucking it up with pictures, even pious ones. Since a tattoo is at the very least a vanity, I would say that not having one trumps having one. And boy! do they look dumb when you get old.
 
mercygate said:
. And boy! do they look dumb when you get old.
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And how. There are a lot of cute young things that are going regret their choice when the faded wrinkled ink starts to sag in a lot of weird ways
 
quasimodo said:
And how. There are a lot of cute young things that are going regret their choice when the faded wrinkled ink starts to sag in a lot of weird ways
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Yeah, on man-boobs! Geez, thanks mercygate for bringing that up; making me think about old saggy tats on… Well, I think I’ll go throw up now! (where’s the barfing smiley?)
 
Hello !!

I asked my priest about this in confession 1 week ago.

Look at my profile to see the tattoo that sits on my left arm.
forums.catholic-questions.org/member.php?u=1815
myspace.com/michelcazayoux ← bigger pic
It’s the Chi Rho (XP).
These are the greek letters whose sounds (Chi = K sound, Rho = R sound) are the first in Christs name.

My representation of the Chi Rho is with three nails that appear to pierce my skin.

I think it’s kinda cool! 😃

After I got it, a friend shrieked “Didn’t you read Leviticus”?
I had, just don’t remember seeing the tattoo thing, so off I went to look at it.
Sure enough, it’s there … right after the line that tells me not to trim my beard.
Of course this is no longer followed.
The intention of the tattoos at that time were pagan in nature.

My priest smiled and said that it was fine.
He also said that if it were offensive to God that would be a different story.

michel
 
cazayoux said:
Hello !!

I asked my priest about this in confession 1 week ago.

Look at my profile to see the tattoo that sits on my left arm.
forums.catholic-questions.org/member.php?u=1815
myspace.com/michelcazayoux ← bigger pic
It’s the Chi Rho (XP).
These are the greek letters whose sounds (Chi = K sound, Rho = R sound) are the first in Christs name.

My representation of the Chi Rho is with three nails that appear to pierce my skin.

I think it’s kinda cool! 😃

After I got it, a friend shrieked “Didn’t you read Leviticus”?
I had, just don’t remember seeing the tattoo thing, so off I went to look at it.
Sure enough, it’s there … right after the line that tells me not to trim my beard.
Of course this is no longer followed.
The intention of the tattoos at that time were pagan in nature.

My priest smiled and said that it was fine.
He also said that if it were offensive to God that would be a different story.

michel
Click to expand...
That is kinda cool! I have a friend who has the Chi Rho on his arm that looks like two stones.
 
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