Tattoo Question

[mikekle]

Most intelligent people over 30 regret the tattoos they got when they were younger, unless they are stuck in a subculture that reveres that sort of thing like MS13, Hell’s Angels, etc.

I think it varies from person to person, I know an older lady that was really into vampires, she wanted a classic vampire face with fangs on her shoulder, she does not regret it, I also know many people I used to go to high school with, I guess you would call them ‘hipsters’, they were into punk rock, alternative rock back in school, most have lot of ink and love it, even though they are in their 40s now.

I will say, I dont like seeing all the young people getting tattoos on their necks, this has to be the worst spot for a permanent design.

tattoos seem to stay popular over the years, they are extremely popular today and have been for awhile, but Ive said before, I think there will be a huge demand for tattoo removal in the near future, I know a guy who regretted his tattoo and bought some kind of cream at walmart to remove it, took close to 2 years, but its gone now, although he probably spent much more than the tattoo cost him to get.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

it’s an attractive image, yes.
But IMHO, you life would better exemplify your Christianity if you simply lived it out, not advertised on your skin.

Why do people think of tattoos as advertising or something that is always for onlookers? Most people get them for themselves or for someone close to them. More people than you think have tattoos and you just don’t know it because they are covered by clothing.

But that’s just me. I’ve never seen a tattoo after a few years that didn’t looks extremely unattractive, no matter the subject matter.

You don’t like tattoos in general so of course you don’t find old tats attractive. I’ve posted in the past images of people when they are young and when they are old with tattoos; both the people and their tats look amazing.

I don’t think God makes mistakes when it comes to how we look. I wonder why we as people are always so dissatisfied with our appearance?

it appears you’re bent on doing it.
Good luck!

Of course, God doesn’t make mistakes but that doesn’t mean there aren’t flaws or aspects of our features that are undesirable. Do you don’t wear makeup, wear jewelry or other accessories that aren’t necessary? Perhaps you possess natural beauty or are simply don’t have features that are unfortunate. I am dissatisfied with my looks but it isn’t why I wear makeup. I wear it because it’s fun. I enjoy discovering different versions of myself with hair and makeup; I don’t mind taking my makeup off at night I like seeing that “look” either. Clothes are not my thing but I like how scarves look on others as well as myself so I’m slowly venturing into wearing more of them though I’m sort of phobic about wearing them.

For those who have ink that is visible it’s not that different, it’s permanent but it would be a drag to reapply a fake one on a regular basis. Just ask Pauly Perrette from NCIS; she hates have the spider tat applied everyday. And I’d love having platinum blond naturally so I could more easily change to pink or teal hair when I wanted.

 

[mikekle]

Why do people think of tattoos as advertising or something that is always for onlookers? Most people get them for themselves or for someone close to them. More people than you think have tattoos and you just don’t know it because they are covered by clothing.

You don’t like tattoos in general so of course you don’t find old tats attractive. I’ve posted in the past images of people when they are young and when they are old with tattoos; both the people and their tats look amazing.

Of course, God doesn’t make mistakes but that doesn’t mean there aren’t flaws or aspects of our features that are undesirable. Do you don’t wear makeup, wear jewelry or other accessories that aren’t necessary? Perhaps you possess natural beauty or are simply don’t have features that are unfortunate. I am dissatisfied with my looks but it isn’t why I wear makeup. I wear it because it’s fun. I enjoy discovering different versions of myself with hair and makeup; I don’t mind taking my makeup off at night I like seeing that “look” either. Clothes are not my thing but I like how scarves look on others as well as myself so I’m slowly venturing into wearing more of them though I’m sort of phobic about wearing them.

For those who have ink that is visible it’s not that different, it’s permanent but it would be a drag to reapply a fake one on a regular basis. Just ask Pauly Perrette from NCIS; she hates have the spider tat applied everyday. And I’d love having platinum blond naturally so I could more easily change to pink or teal hair when I wanted.

Thats a good point, most people I know with tattoos could care less what anyone else thinks about them, they are doing it for their own reasons.

Plus, nowadays tattoos are not THAT permanent as they used to be at least, laser removal is quite common and tattoo removal as a whole is a growing industry…heck you can even get tattoo removal cream at walmart now!!! LOL

 

[WillyAL]

1. Fr. Robert Altier’s Examination of Conscience lists “Excessive tattoos” as a mortal sin.

Not sure what to make of this. He lists his objection to tattoos among violations of the 5th Commandment. A strange position to take IMHO.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

Not sure what to make of this. He lists his objection to tattoos among violations of the 5th Commandment. A strange position to take IMHO.

Because it has to do with the body/life or the disregard thereof. To me, excessive tattoos seem like a matter of pride or the worship of the body over God but that doesn’t really fit. The 5th commandment is appropriate.

 

[LaughingBoy1503]

Please consider the following before getting a tattoo:

1. “You are not to gash your bodies when someone dies, and you are not to tattoo yourselves. I am the LORD.” [Leviticus 19:28]
2. “Your body, you know, is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you since you received him from God. You are not your own property; you have been bought and paid for. That is why you should use your body for the glory of God.” [1 Corinthians 6:19–20]
3. Fr. Robert Altier’s Examination of Conscience lists “Excessive tattoos” as a mortal sin.

I was waiting for someone to bring up leviticus

There is a distinction between moral and ceremonial law in the old testament. Tattoos in general fall under Ceremonial, not moral. Jewish ceremonial law is not binding on Christians. The moral law is binding on all. Yes, The Catechism says that excessive or vulgar tattoos are a sin, but everything in excess is a sin.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

I was waiting for someone to bring up leviticus

There is a distinction between moral and ceremonial law in the old testament. Tattoos in general fall under Ceremonial, not moral. Jewish ceremonial law is not binding on Christians. The moral law is binding on all. Yes, The Catechism says that excessive or vulgar tattoos are a sin, but everything in excess is a sin.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I’m not allowed to post images yet, but I wanted to know if a tattoo I’m going to get would be morally wrong. It’s a Crucifix on top, and below it is a Polish Eagle. They are not connected but close together. My gut feeling is its not wrong, but just would like some (name removed by moderator)ut.

Thanks !

Go for it if it is what you wish to permanently put it on you. It sounds fine to me. I’m not a tattoo guy, usually I would engage in some sort of debate about it but if you are confident in it do it. It doesn’t sound like they are disrespectful at all.
Another thread a while ago had someone who wanted to get a foreign language tattoo that he couldn’t speak. I think that is kind of imprudent. But this sounds fine to me.

 

[Listener]

When I was growing up in the 1950’s, we were told that it was a mortal sin to get a tattoo. Why? I was told that my body was a temple of the Holy Spirit, and that I was not supposed to mutilate my body.

I guess the Church must have changed this teaching, but I still hate tattoos. I think that they are just plain ugly. From a distance, they look like you fell down and bruised yourself and turned black and blue.

The other issue is that they are expensive. Why not put the money in savings for a rainy day?

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

When I was growing up in the 1950’s, we were told that it was a mortal sin to get a tattoo. Why? I was told that my body was a temple of the Holy Spirit, and that I was not supposed to mutilate my body.

I guess the Church must have changed this teaching, but I still hate tattoos. I think that they are just plain ugly. From a distance, they look like you fell down and bruised yourself and turned black and blue.

The other issue is that they are expensive. Why not put the money in savings for a rainy day?

The church did not change its teaching.
Can you cite something that shows what the teaching was in the 1950s?

 

[PhiloMed]

i always hated tattoos and thought they were silly until I met my husband’s family.

Most of his family- including his 86 year old grandmother- have a small cross tattoo on the inside of their wrist. These are largely done outside of the church right after mass by young men with a tattoo push cart. There have been times in history when this tattoo is what allowed them to get into church for security reasons. There have been times when people have been killed for this tattoo.

Tattoos can mean different things to different people.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

i always hated tattoos and thought they were silly until I met my husband’s family.

Most of his family- including his 86 year old grandmother- have a small cross tattoo on the inside of their wrist. These are largely done outside of the church right after mass by young men with a tattoo push cart. There have been times in history when this tattoo is what allowed them to get into church for security reasons. There have been times when people have been killed for this tattoo.

Tattoos can mean different things to different people.

That’s a pretty cool story.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

I hope you don’t eat cheeseburgers, pizza with cheese & pepperoni, bacon, or shrimp, and that you do not wear clothing that is more that 2 types of fiber (cotton/linen blend being very popular for summer clothes right now), as every single one of these things is also prohibited in Leviticus.

I really wish people would stop cherry-picking which rules others should follow.

Please consider the following before getting a tattoo:

1. “You are not to gash your bodies when someone dies, and you are not to tattoo yourselves. I am the LORD.” [Leviticus 19:28]
2. “Your body, you know, is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you since you received him from God. You are not your own property; you have been bought and paid for. That is why you should use your body for the glory of God.” [1 Corinthians 6:19–20]
3. Fr. Robert Altier’s Examination of Conscience lists “Excessive tattoos” as a mortal sin.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

i always hated tattoos and thought they were silly until I met my husband’s family.

Most of his family- including his 86 year old grandmother- have a small cross tattoo on the inside of their wrist. These are largely done outside of the church right after mass by young men with a tattoo push cart. There have been times in history when this tattoo is what allowed them to get into church for security reasons. There have been times when people have been killed for this tattoo.

Tattoos can mean different things to different people.

That’s how my friend got her first tattoo. She was visiting a friend in Egypt and it was a kiosk/pushcart situation and got the cross Coptic Christians there get.

 

[Sunbreak]

Nothing wrong with the tattoo design shown. Even though not everyone Polish is/was Catholic, it is strongly associated with Poland so the crucifix is appropriate. If you have Polish heritage you may also know that the Polish government in exile during communist times used the eagle symbol with a cross on its crown.

 

[LaughingBoy1503]

When I was growing up in the 1950’s, we were told that it was a mortal sin to get a tattoo. Why? I was told that my body was a temple of the Holy Spirit, and that I was not supposed to mutilate my body.

I guess the Church must have changed this teaching, but I still hate tattoos. I think that they are just plain ugly. From a distance, they look like you fell down and bruised yourself and turned black and blue.

The other issue is that they are expensive. Why not put the money in savings for a rainy day?

I was talking to a woman recently who told me that she was told that one should not receive communion with too many venial sins on their soul and she was taught this in her classes for confirmation or first communion. I cannot remember which. And of course that is not true that too many venial sins should prevent anyone from communion. It is just not true. So even the Catechists make mistakes and can teach a error sometimes. The Catechism does not say tattoos are a sin at all. Only excess or vulgar tattoos. Maybe the popular opinion was that they were a mortal sin back in the 50’s?

 

[Listener]

The church did not change its teaching.
Can you cite something that shows what the teaching was in the 1950s?

Tattoos were considered to be a sin against the 5th Commandment, which commands us to take proper care of our spiritual and bodily well being. We were not supposed to mutilate our bodies unless absolutely necessary for health. Tattoos were considered a form of mutilation.

 

[Belshazzar]

One of the Eucharistic ministers at my mother’s parish wears a sleeveless blouse, revealing all her tattoos, AND she dons the mantilla!!!

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Tattoos were considered to be a sin against the 5th Commandment, which commands us to take proper care of our spiritual and bodily well being. We were not supposed to mutilate our bodies unless absolutely necessary for health. Tattoos were considered a form of mutilation.

Where is this in Catholic teaching?

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Let’s not confuse what someone was “told” with Catholic teaching…