Body Art and the Catholic Church

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Body Art and the Catholic Church

I have always wondered if the Catholic church approved of tattooing and body piercing. I am not the type of person that most people think of when they think of tattooed or pierced individual. When I tell people that I have tattoos, people always say “but you don’t seem like the kind of person who would get a tattoo.” I personally do not believe that certain kinds of people get tattoos and I wondered what my religion would think of my “art.” I have gone to a Catholic church my whole life; I am actually very active in my church. I teach a four year old CCD (or Catholic Sunday school) class and I used to play my flute in the choir. CCD registrations this year made my mind burn with this unanswered question. Do I need to cover up my tattoo while I am teaching?

Now most people don’t think that I have as many modifications as I do. If you look at my ears, they are actually pierced eight times, and counting my navel ring and eyebrow ring, that makes ten. I also have two tattoos. One tattoo is on my lower back. The tattoo is a small penguin. He is about two inches tall. The other takes up almost all of the side of my right foot. My best friend designed this one for me; it is an orange flower with tribal designs and vines coming from both sides of it. I am very proud of my tattoos, because they mean something to me and represent something about myself. Because I am a fairly shy person, my tattoos (or navel piercing) are not revealed unless someone asks to see them. When I got all of my modifications done, I never considered my religion. I believe that if I am a good person who loves God, my tattoos will not matter. Now that I have a visible tattoo on my foot, I wondered if all of my dress shoes will...

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...hink even though there is nothing in the church laws that forbids body modifications (Larratt), these modifications are frowned upon by many religious people. I think that I will cover my tattoos, for now, so that I do not upset any of the other parishioners, but I will not ever question the morality of my choices in body modifications!

Works Cited

Joseph, Father Peter. “The Morality of Tattoos and Body Piercing.” The Latin Mass- A Journal of Catholic Culture. Summer 2002. 18 October 2004 <http://www.latinmassmagazine.com/articles/articles_2002_SU_Joseph.html>.

Larratt, Shannon. “Does God Hate Your Tattoos?” BMEzine. 2 November 2003. 19 October 2004 <http://www.bmezine.com/news/pubring/20031102.html>.

“Tattoos, anyone?” Online Posting. 12 July 2004. Catholic Answers Forum. 20 October 2004 <http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=83627>.

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