Tattoos

The answer has more to do with what the tattoo is and why you're getting it than anything. Obviously it should not be something sacrilegious, and you should not be getting it for a sinful reason.

Carrye said:

The answer has more to do with what the tattoo is and why you're getting it than anything. Obviously it should not be something sacrilegious, and you should not be getting it for a sinful reason.

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Yup.

I do not think it is sinful, but a lot of people get them when they are young and regret them latter, I would wait untill I was older if I was you.

Tattoos also have a history in Christian tradition.

Coptic Christians have for centuries worn their tattoos proudly despite persecution for being Christian. I second Carrye's answer.

missvicious423 said:

I was wondering.
If you're Catholic is it okay to get a tattoo?

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So long as you underline your tattoo with these letters... "MIKEK" then you're good to go. This is straight from Vatican II. It's one of the Church teachings that I struggle with and as a result have refrained from getting a tattoo myself.

I think they are fine, I wanted to get something to like the Hail Mary in latin or something, but I'm too chicken!

But yeah, as long as they aren't offensive!

That also brings me to another question...what do you guys feel about piercings? I have my tongue pierced, but (hopefully) it isn't all that obvious to many people. I got it for my own reasons, and it is placed a little further back than normal so it isn't so flashy.

Maybe it is just me trying to recapture a bit of my "youth" !

missvicious423 said:

I thought it was okay.

I still don't know what I'm getting.

Or even if I'm getting one.

I've always wanted a saint though and it would either be saint Micheal or saint Cecilia. Although I would want it way smaller and somewhat less epic looking kinda like the picture below.

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Do you know what boys think of girls with tattoos?

Really, just don't. Color your hair, pierce your body... just don't do anything permanent. There are lots of ways to express yourself.. but realize that tattoo expresses who you were at 16 for the rest of your life.

Called2Grace said:

I think they are fine, I wanted to get something to like the Hail Mary in latin or something, but I'm too chicken!

But yeah, as long as they aren't offensive!

That also brings me to another question...what do you guys feel about piercings? I have my tongue pierced, but (hopefully) it isn't all that obvious to many people. I got it for my own reasons, and it is placed a little further back than normal so it isn't so flashy.

Maybe it is just me trying to recapture a bit of my "youth" !

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Piercing isn't permanent...
I just think (particularily) that a lot of young women have no idea what they signalling to men by their body modifications and dress.

It's funny when you hear them complain about why they can't find any nice boys.

If it is meaningful to you and not offensive to God and you still feel this way when you are 18 then go for it, but it is permanent, and will probably hurt, so if you are a big baby like myself....

And if you get one on your belly it will stretch if you are pregnant

I would wait untill I was older then 18, wait till you are atleast 20

missvicious423 said:

I was wondering.

If you're Catholic is it okay to get a tattoo?

I've noticed alot of people have had different opinions about this and I'm really curious as to what you all think.

I've loved tattoos for as long as I can remember and I don't want a ton I just want one to remind me of God.

Is it okay? Or not?

What does everyone think?

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Don't do it ! There is no greater "turn-off" than a girl with a tattoo.

some tattoos are nice

I have no problem with a girl with tats! I think they can be kinda hot! Also, it is about how beautiful you are to others and to your family and a reflection of God in your heart that makes you more attractive. And a tattoo can never take away from that!

As far as the church is concerned, I have never been refused the Holy Eucharist for mine. I love the picture though. Do your whole back with it. It can be a 3 year project for the artist.

BTW, hire a good artist to draw it up the way you want it. It is worth it. I have a friend who does awesome work and I have paid about $50 most of the time for his tattoo work. He is drawing another for me as we speak.

Col said:

Don't do it ! There is no greater "turn-off" than a girl with a tattoo.

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...to a 48 year old man who likely still associates tattoos with sailors and Charles Manson. I don't think you belong to a demographic that the OP would care to turn-on.

I know more people with tattoos than without. I don't think they say much of anything to anyone these days.

tattoos are yucky.

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]There is no direct specific teaching of the Church about this matter as far as I know. However, there may be some general moral principles which could apply. For instance, a minor child (in the U.S.A. any one under 18) would be morally obliged to obey his or her parents when they forbid a tattoo. Also unnecessary bodily mutilation is forbidden by the fifth commandment. If a tattoo or body piercing or other practices done for aesthetic reasons were to entail what most people would call mutilation, these things could be sinful. If a tattoo were particularly repulsive to most people, obtaining it could also be a violation of Christian charity.[/FONT]

This is taken from the Diocese of Lincoln, NE newspaper.
I think it is important to exercise extreme prudence in having one!
It is also important, especially in this area of Moral Theology, to not confuse personal tastes with actual doctrine. If some of you are also members of the forum section over at catholic.com, then you know that there has been shall we say, a lively discussion regarding the morality of tattoos... Personally, I would never get one, but I unless you get something totally sacrilege, I can't see anyone being excommunicated for having one!

Rhamiel said:

I would wait untill I was older then 18, wait till you are atleast 20

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I say the opposite. I regret not getting lots of tattoos when I was young and had disposable income, and when I would have gotten the most years of enjoyment out of them. If I get one today, I can expect to enjoy my purchase for 12 fewer years, that's a bad deal.