Tattoo

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I need a straight out answer: are tattoos wrong according to the Church’s official teaching?

DU
 
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snowman10:
I need a straight out answer: are tattoos wrong according to the Church’s official teaching?

DU
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Nope. Unless they are morally objectionable.

Check these links:

catholicexchange.com/vm/index.asp?vm_id=64&art_id=26987
*Dear Catholic Exchange,

I am a confirmed and practicing Catholic. Recently, I got a tattoo on my left wrist of the Irish Claddagh holding the Sacred Heart. To wear the claddagh on the left hand with the heart open to you means that you are spoken for. Also, the tattoo artist drew my hands as the claddagh hands. The whole thing is very symbolic. I want to know if it would be too weird to get it blessed by a priest. I got the image as a sacramental. It’s so I can look at it and be reminded that I belong to someone else and need to act accordingly. What do you think?

Kenneth

*Dear Kenneth,

Peace in Christ!

Because there are certain items which the Church traditionally blesses, it may be that the tattoo itself is not a suitable object for a blessing. However, priests often give spontaneous blessings to persons for various reasons. Therefore, if you explained to the priest that the tattoo symbolizes your commitment of fidelity to Jesus Christ, his blessing would strengthen you personally in your efforts to more perfectly live that commitment. In this way the reception of the tattoo would become more effectively symbolic of your personal consecration to Christ.

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americancatholic.org/Messenger/Aug2001/Wiseman.asp
Q:** I was told that getting a tattoo was a sin against God. I am Catholic and would like to become a eucharistic minister. **

**On the wrist of my right arm, I have an inch and a half tattoo of a hummingbird and a little flower. Does that mean that I cannot be a eucharistic minister?
**

A: In Leviticus 19:28, God tells the Hebrew people not to tattoo themselves. Because many pagans used these as religious symbols, Scripture scholars tell us this prohibition was meant to help the Hebrews separate themselves from pagan society.

I am not aware of any general rule in the Catholic Church prohibiting someone with a tattoo from becoming a eucharistic minister.

Many tattoos convey messages contrary to Jesus’ Good News; others do not. What you described sounds pretty harmless in its meaning.

If you had a satanic symbol tattooed in a very visible place, I would recommend removing it or, if that is not possible, figuring out how to cover it up before seeking to become a eucharistic minister. That is not your case.

I am not recommending that anyone get a tattoo; I am simply answering the question you posed.
 
Not intrinsically, no. Circumstances can obviously change this, I.E. type of tattoo, location, and culture of the area (propensity to cause scandal). Those would then be sins of lewdness and scandal, however, and not sins of tattoos specifically.

You can see a much more in-depth writing on this on Jimmy Akin’s blog. Simply scroll down to the bottom few articles, or do a search on the page for “tattoo”.

:blessyou:
 
ok then all…I need a good design for my left leg…maybe a cross, crucifix, or sacred heart…not sure.

any thoughts?

DU
 
Check out the design on this guy’s shirt.
And here’s the translation for the Latin.
Veritas: Truth
Aequitas: Justice or Equality

Hope this helps.
 
I asked that once, the info I got was that they are frivolous, vain, and not prudent…

Oh well
 
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snowman10:
ok then all…I need a good design for my left leg…maybe a cross, crucifix, or sacred heart…not sure.

any thoughts?

DU
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I have tatoos on both arms. I got them over 20 years ago when I was in the military. I wish I never did. Not that they are vulgar or anything but THEY NEVER COME OFF!!!

My 2 cents.
 
I read an answer on here earlier about a person who wanted to get a tatoo of a ROSARY around her ANKLE. Isn’t that a bit sacriligious?? The lady who answered was like yeah it’s okay go ahead. But that would mean having a CRUCIFIX near your FEET!

HOW DISRESPECTFUL IS THAT!?
 
I have the Vatican seal on my bicep and the sacred heart on my chest. Planning on getting a snake with his head crushed on my arm next! Nothing wrong with tats, I find the pain while getting one is great to offer up to Jesus!
 
Wollie said:
I have the Vatican seal on my bicep and the sacred heart on my chest. Planning on getting a snake with his head crushed on my arm next! Nothing wrong with tats, I find the pain while getting one is great to offer up to Jesus!
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I’m sure they’re lovely.

However, since you’re proudly broadcasting your Catholicism I hope you’re responsible enough to see that your words and deeds live up.

Else, if you do something not in accordance with Catholicism- I hope the people who see you don’t think that all committed Catholics believe and follow what you do. Which is danger I see in this. The danger of MISREPRESENTING the Catholic faith.

I mean no offense- this is just to keep you aware of your accountability by claiming your catholicism so loudly; in case you’re not already.
 
iamrefreshed said:
I have tatoos on both arms. I got them over 20 years ago when I was in the military. I wish I never did. Not that they are vulgar or anything but THEY NEVER COME OFF!!! My 2 cents.
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My 21 yr old son is in the Navy and now has several tattoos!
 
I have five tattoos, many times I look at them & think they are something I could have done without. I have met many other people who have matured now & Most of them say , if they had it to do over they wouldnt get tattooed, some are even embarrassed by them, they try to hide them.I also think its a shame the way some Beautiful young women are getting tattooed on their arms & legs, they don`t realize what they are doing to themselves, they are ruining their natural beauty
 
I’m in the USMC and was wondering if It would be all right to get a tatoo of an EGA (the Marine’s logo), Is that accecptible.
I would like an answer from the Catholic Churches piont of view.
 
Here are some words from St. Paul “Whatever you eat or drink or whatever else you do, do it all for the glory of God. Never be a cause of offence, either to Jews or to Greeks or to the Church of God, just as I try to accommodate everybody in EVERYTHING, not looking for my own advantage, but for the advantage of everybody else, so that they maybe saved.” “TAKE ME AS YOUR PATTERN, JUST AS I TAKE CHRIST FOR MINE.”

Your body is not your own as it is CHRIST who lives in you. Therefore your on body is a tabernacle for CHRIST please do not dessecrate the Holy temple of God.

chelsea
 
I know you’ve probably heard this a lot, but make sure you will want them forever.

I have 23 small, mostly hidden tattoos from my college years and I definitely wish they would disappear! They aren’t immoral symbols, but now that I’m at a different point in my life I find them to be embarassing (at least the one on my the back of my neck and the one on my ankle, because people ask about them constantly). After going through three laser removals (which cost over $300 a pop) they aren’t even faded. Just make sure you’re sure!
 
I was thinking about get a tattoo on my right wrist. The Crown of Thorns that is, what do you guys think?
 
I have close to 30 tattoos and haven’t regretted any of them.

Here’s the run down:
Papal Cross on back of neck
Cherry blossoms on left shoulder
Assortment of flowers on right shoulder
Several butterflies fluttering about on my back
Multiple flowers on my ankles
Hieroglyphics on the tops of my feet
Flowers and stars around my left wrist
A large dragonfly chasing three butterflies on the inside of left forearm
Large Koi fish on the outside of left forearm (working on a sleeve obviously)
Star on the inside of my left ear

Places I won’t get tattooed? My torso and bottom - in my opinion these areas are much too pretty for a woman to get inked.

I truly believe that God loves me with or without tattoos. Like I said, I’ve never regretted them, they are apart of me. Almost every day I get at least one compliment on them. None of them are offensive and I feel absolutely beautiful. Everyone has an opinion and that’s OK, but it’s best to remember “to each his own”. Is what I’ve done a sin? Absolutely not.
 
Lorrie said:
I have close to 30 tattoos and haven’t regretted any of them.

Here’s the run down:
Papal Cross on back of neck
Cherry blossoms on left shoulder
Assortment of flowers on right shoulder
Several butterflies fluttering about on my back
Multiple flowers on my ankles
Hieroglyphics on the tops of my feet
Flowers and stars around my left wrist
A large dragonfly chasing three butterflies on the inside of left forearm
Large Koi fish on the outside of left forearm (working on a sleeve obviously)
Star on the inside of my left ear

Places I won’t get tattooed? My torso and bottom - in my opinion these areas are much too pretty for a woman to get inked.

I truly believe that God loves me with or without tattoos. Like I said, I’ve never regretted them, they are apart of me. Almost every day I get at least one compliment on them. None of them are offensive and I feel absolutely beautiful. Everyone has an opinion and that’s OK, but it’s best to remember “to each his own”. Is what I’ve done a sin? Absolutely not.
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Very intersting. As a youth I´ve been tought tattoos are a sin by my CCD teacher, my father, and a older friend of mine. Looks like they are wrong.
 
What’s wrong with you people thinking that tattoo’s are alright! God mad it quite clear that you are not to get tattoo’s.

Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 19:28
 
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