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| No | 62% | 375 votes | Total: 605 votes | |
| Yes | 38% | 230 votes |
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Add to FavoritesGood grief, what next? If someone starts a rumour that we can't wear make-up, colour our hair or wear jewellery, we're really in trouble!
Catholics can have body piercing, or tattoos just the same as everybody else. Of course, they should take care to go to a reputable establishment to have the procedure done, to avoid infection and nasty diseases which can be spread through infected needles, but that advice applies to everyone.
In some European countries, where the populations are predominantly Catholic, parents have baby girls' ears pierced shortly after birth. At one time, I thought it was strange to see my Italian friend's beautiful baby daughter already sporting tiny diamond earrings. Then the mother explained that it was part of their culture and it spared the child the discomfort of having it done when she was older.
The misinformation about piercing and tattoos may arise from the fact that Catholics believe that the fifth Commandment, "Thou shalt not kill" has extended implications. Of course it is wrong to kill another person. It is also wrong to kill ourselves. We need to respect our bodies and take care of them. We should eat properly, get sufficient exercise and a reasonable amount of sleep. If we become ill, we should go to the doctor.
It might be argued that smoking, drug addiction, alcoholism are wrong because they do permanent damage to the body. Alcoholism damages the liver, and too much alcohol destroys brain tissue.
I haven't smoked in twenty-five years, yet when I went for a lung-capacity test several months ago the technician was able to spot damage that was caused by the years of smoking in earlier times. That damage is permanent.
I regret smoking now but when I started in the 1950s, we didn't know how harmful it was, and it became an addiction very quickly. I suspect alcohol does also, especially for people who have a gene which predisposes them to that addiction.
Perhaps people who suffer from addictions shouldn't be judged as harshly as those are aware of the risks and participate in the questionable behaviour anyway. Addictions are very difficult to overcome. I've been struggling with an overeating problem all my life, and I expect to have it until my take my last breath.
Although I have my ears pierced, I am presently a grandmother, and am no longer tempted to get additional piercing or tattoos. I admit that I don't like to see beautiful young people with things that look like nails in their faces, but I understand the holes heal over when the nails are removed, so no permanent damage is done.
Tattoos are more permanent, but they can be removed with a laser, I think. It's probably very painful, but it would be embarrassing trying to explain some youthful motto such as " I'm a screamin' demon!" when you're my age. I'm glad I never indulged in that particular activity.
Catholics are just like everybody else, imperfect people trying to do their best to please their Creator in the midst of an imperfect society, in an imperfect world . When you think about it, there are a lot worse things we could be doing than getting tattoos and piercings.
Now, it you'll excuse me, I'll put on some make-up, change my earrings (these don't match my outfit) and go to the store to get some hair colouring. I don't want all this grey showing when I go to Mass on Sunday.
Learn more about this author, Carolyn Tytler.
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Yes
Are tattoos and body piercings against Catholic teachings should reference Christianity as a whole rather than Catholicism, the bottom line being whether or not a Christian denomination professes belief in scriptural inerrancy. The Old Testament is very specific about not marking or defacing one's body, and the New Testament teaches that the body is a holy temple, wherein the Holy Spirit dwells. Tattooing and piercing could be dealt with through these scripture passages, which many would consider "legalistic".
The question then begs, is getting a tattoo(s) and/or piercings any worse than overeating, excess alcohol intake or any other over indulgence or bodily abuse? The Catholic church, as do other fundamental churches, stand rigid on many things for many reasons, but body piercings and markings, though possibly offensive, would not be thought to be a cardinal sin. Even so, getting tattooed is something people often put very little thought into, considering it is pretty permanent. As far as piercings, countless females and many males have pierced ears. Some have multiple ear piercings. Many people have their baby girls' ears pierced in infancy. This takes away the choice of the individual to decide on piercing, so surely they cannot be held at fault.
A young co-worker went with a group of friends, and on a whim, got a wreath tattooed around her navel, then got it pierced and inserted a navel ring. The pierced area got infected which marred the wreath a bit. Within a year she got married, then shortly after, got pregnant. She gained a lot of weight and had a large baby. Afterward, that was one of the ugliest wreaths anyone ever saw.
Many people have loved one's or idols' names tattooed on them, and when those persons disappear from their lives, they are either stuck with that tattoo or they have to pay to have it removed, which often leaves a scar. Others have things such as skull and crossbones, gang signs, or other irreputible things "etched" on themselves that profess things negative to Christian faith. Once again, if they realize the error of their ways, they have to do the removal process or keep it covered forever more as well as be reminded of the foolish choices they made. How many sailors have gotten tattoos on impulse while serving far from home, feeling homesick and drinking too much, then regretted it when they sobered up?
There ae discrete tattoos and piercings, and there are absurd ons. A bone through the nose, large objects through the earlobes, and other extremes are an entire other subject. Some of these things truly deface a person. On occasion the tattoos themselves or the jewelry that inserts into the piercings are representative of Satanism of other sorts of paganism. This becomes part of the problem.
Not being Catholic and/or knowing the catechism on this issue, I cannot say for certain what reasons they have for standing against tattoos, but there can be both Biblical and practical reasons as previously noted. Anything we do impulsively without giving much thought to future consequences is not something we can expect the church to condone; however not all these choices lead to condemnation, and certainly not tattooing and/or piercing.
Learn more about this author, Linda Burleson.
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