Tatoos/piercings.

[ContemporaryCaflicCrusader]

Hi, ya I tend to think of tatoos and piercings as the mortal sin of mutilation. I just was wondering about what you guys thought.

[Luigi]

I don't think they're sins - mortal or otherwise.





i just think they're stupid.

[faithcecelia]

I have 3 tattoos and 17 piercings, most now closed up. 2 of the tats are religious and are for me an outward expression and reminder of the faith I profess.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='ContemporaryCaflicCrusader' timestamp='1315333538' post='2301155']
Hi, ya I tend to think of tatoos and piercings as the mortal sin of mutilation. I just was wondering about what you guys thought.
[/quote]
even ear piercings for girls?

[quote name='ContemporaryCaflicCrusader' timestamp='1315333538' post='2301155']
Hi, ya I tend to think of tatoos and piercings as the mortal sin of mutilation. I just was wondering about what you guys thought.
[/quote]
do you have sources that back up your claim?

[OnlySunshine]

It is not looked upon by the Church as a mortal sin or even a venial sin for that matter unless the process of tattooing endangers your health or you spend money on it that could be used to meet financial obligations. I imagine that the reason you thought it was a mortal sin was because of a quote from Leviticus:

"Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord." - Leviticus 19:28

The problem is that this is considered Mosaic law which is no longer in existence and has been superseded by Christian law. If you would like to read more, read what an apologist, Jimmy Akin, wrote on the subject.

[url="http://www.jimmyakin.org/2004/03/tattoos.html"]Jimmy Akin on the subject of tattoos[/url]

While I would never get a tattoo (because I just don't like the look of them), it is not something to be scrupulous about.

[got2luvjc]

[quote name='faithcecelia' timestamp='1315335564' post='2301169']
I have 3 tattoos and 17 piercings, most now closed up. 2 of the tats are religious and are for me an outward expression and reminder of the faith I profess.
[/quote]

I have 4 tattoos, two of which are religious. My reasoning is the exact same reason. I tell people that all of them are external reminders of my inner values.

[sixpence]

i have 6 ear piercings.... I do not think they are sinful... I don't think tattoos are either.. although i don't have any...

I think they used to be looked down upon as a sign of certain types of lifestyles... but in many places they are so commonplace that this is no longer the case.

If it were a mortal sin why would it be? Would all body alterations be sinful? Hair coloring/ cutting? lobe piercings? Where would the line be drawn?

[Basilisa Marie]

My own ears have double-pierced lobes.

I see your Leviticus and raise you Ezekiel:
[quote]
"I adorned you with jewelry, putting bracelets on your arms, a necklace about your neck, a ring in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head." (16:9-12)[/quote]

Even in the Old Testament it works. And the Leviticus verse is in reference to pagan and/or occult ceremonies. Mutilation of the body as an act of reverence or offering to a pagan god.

Either way there's no way it'd be a mortal sin. Cutting your wrists to get attention is far more serious than piercing your ears to look pretty.

Edited September 7, 2011 by Basilisa Marie

[MithLuin]

I do think people should be less casual in getting tattoos and body piercings...but I do not consider it a question of morality.

Too bad. I'd win that game hands down - no tats, no piercings (not even ears), never dyed my hair, and don't wear makeup. This was the first summer I painted my toenails, even.

Strangely enough, these choices don't make me a better person.

[elizabeth09]

I have only think that girls should get their ears pierce. Only one hole in each ear.

[Papist]

[url="http://www.cuf.org/faithfacts/details_view.asp?ffid=233"]http://www.cuf.org/f...ew.asp?ffid=233[/url]


One can really solve a lot of confusion on how they act, if they ask themselves at least some of the below questions prior to doing that act.

Would a Saint do it?
Would I be embarrassed if Our Lord or His Blessed Mother was to see this?
Am I really doing all that I do in Christ Jesus?
Would what I am doing be accepted in every century of Christendom PRIOR to this one?
Given a choice, would this be deemed a Virtue or a Vice?
Would I allow my family, friends or children to do the same?
Would the majority of Catholics do this, and if not, WHY not?
Would I be a good representative of my Catholic Religion by doing this?
Drawing a line between those who would condone this act and those who wouldn't, which side of the line would I be on and who else would be there?

Edited September 7, 2011 by Papist

[ParadiseFound]

It's a person's choice whether they have that done to their body, although I do think some people take it too far. I saw a man (must've been in his early twenties) in a train station recently who had a huge tattoo covering his whole neck. I mean, how will that look when he's in his sixties? It's crazy. He'll have to stick to polo neck jumpers once he realises how stupid he was.

[Basilisa Marie]

[quote name='ParadiseFound' timestamp='1315421227' post='2301693']
It's a person's choice whether they have that done to their body, although I do think some people take it too far. I saw a man (must've been in his early twenties) in a train station recently who had a huge tattoo covering his whole neck. I mean, how will that look when he's in his sixties? It's crazy. He'll have to stick to polo neck jumpers once he realises how stupid he was.
[/quote]

The problem with that line of reasoning is that because there are so many people with lots of tattoos, piercings and gauges/stretchers (the BIG holes in ears), by the time they're sixty it won't look weird because so many people will have them. Most places nowadays won't bar you from getting a job if you have lots of tattoos and such, if you live in the right area of the country

[sixpence]

How I would answer these for tattoos/piercings...

[quote name='Papist' timestamp='1315398811' post='2301536']
[url="http://www.cuf.org/faithfacts/details_view.asp?ffid=233"]http://www.cuf.org/f...ew.asp?ffid=233[/url]


Would a Saint do it? I think they would not because they would not want to spend the money decorating themselves
Would I be embarrassed if Our Lord or His Blessed Mother was to see this? no
Am I really doing all that I do in Christ Jesus? probably
Would what I am doing be accepted in every century of Christendom PRIOR to this one? probably not
Given a choice, would this be deemed a Virtue or a Vice? vice... but also in this category would be professional haircuts, nice clothes etc
Would I allow my family, friends or children to do the same? yes
Would the majority of Catholics do this, and if not, WHY not? unsure.. why not: cultural
Would I be a good representative of my Catholic Religion by doing this? seems as irrelavant as what color shirt i wear
Drawing a line between those who would condone this act and those who wouldn't, which side of the line would I be on and who else would be there? on the other side: fundies, older people
[/quote]

[Papist]

[quote name='sixpence' timestamp='1315425593' post='2301720']
How I would answer these for tattoos/piercings...

[quote]Would a Saint do it? I think they would not because they would not want to spend the money decorating themselves
Would I be embarrassed if Our Lord or His Blessed Mother was to see this? no
Am I really doing all that I do in Christ Jesus? probably
Would what I am doing be accepted in every century of Christendom PRIOR to this one? probably not
Given a choice, would this be deemed a Virtue or a Vice? vice... but also in this category would be professional haircuts, nice clothes etc
Would I allow my family, friends or children to do the same? yes
Would the majority of Catholics do this, and if not, WHY not? unsure.. why not: cultural
Would I be a good representative of my Catholic Religion by doing this? seems as irrelavant as what color shirt i wear
Drawing a line between those who would condone this act and those who wouldn't, which side of the line would I be on and who else would be there? on the other side: fundies, older people [/quote]
[/quote]

[img]http://www.pic4ever.com/images/229.gif[/img]

[Lil Red]

there are things i wouldn't want Our Lord or Our Lady to see me doing...doesn't make them bad though.

[MithLuin]

Well, sure. It's a bit embarrassing to think of anyone watching me while I'm (for instance) changing my clothes or using the bathroom. But I think it's worth considering whether or not we'd be embarrased if Jesus and Mary were to 'find out' about something we had done. Shame can be a powerful clue that protects us from being taken advantage of or going down the wrong path. And, realistically, we can't keep secrets from Jesus! He already knows, so....

[Lil Red]

[quote name='MithLuin' timestamp='1315430111' post='2301769']Well, sure. It's a bit embarrassing to think of anyone watching me while I'm (for instance) changing my clothes or using the bathroom. [b]But I think it's worth considering whether or not we'd be embarrassed if Jesus and Mary were to 'find out' about something we had done.[/b] Shame can be a powerful clue that protects us from being taken advantage of or going down the wrong path. And, realistically, we can't keep secrets from Jesus! He already knows, so....[/quote]
but, He already knows everything we've done.

[MithLuin]

Yes, and if you keep reading, I said as much

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Papist' timestamp='1315398811' post='2301536']Would a Saint do it?[/quote] turn this around, if you found out a saint had a tattoo (and wasn't ashamed of it), would your opinion of this saint be lessened? why?

[quote name='Papist' timestamp='1315398811' post='2301536']Would I be embarrassed if Our Lord or His Blessed Mother was to see this?[/quote] no.

[quote name='Papist' timestamp='1315398811' post='2301536']Am I really doing all that I do in Christ Jesus?[/quote]this question doesn't even make sense to me.

[quote name='Papist' timestamp='1315398811' post='2301536']Would what I am doing be accepted in every century of Christendom PRIOR to this one?[/quote] probably not. of course, as a woman, there are a lot of things I do that would not be accepted in every century of Christendom prior to this one: like drink, wear pantaloons, vote, etc.

[quote name='Papist' timestamp='1315398811' post='2301536']Given a choice, would this be deemed a Virtue or a Vice?[/quote]it depends.

[quote name='Papist' timestamp='1315398811' post='2301536']Would I allow my family, friends or children to do the same?[/quote]yes.

[quote name='Papist' timestamp='1315398811' post='2301536']Would the majority of Catholics do this, and if not, WHY not?[/quote]does it matter?

[quote name='Papist' timestamp='1315398811' post='2301536']Would I be a good representative of my Catholic Religion by doing this?[/quote]would i be a good representative of my Catholic religion by going to a bar and having a drink?

[quote name='Papist' timestamp='1315398811' post='2301536']Drawing a line between those who would condone this act and those who wouldn't, which side of the line would I be on and who else would be there?[/quote]i like sixpence's answer.