Opinions on Tattoos

[Maggyie]

5 minutes ago, Nihil Obstat said:

My priest actually will not marry a couple if the bride's dress exposes her shoulders.  

Well that's too bad, people are entitled within canonical limits to the sacraments and strapless wedding dresses really don't cause scandal anymore (says the girl who wore long sleeves) 

I've seen really beautiful tattoos. But I don't get it, they're very expensive and can make things like detecting cancer much more difficult depending on size and color. It doesn't seem worth it. 

[Sponsa-Christi]

In general, I personally don't like the look of tattoos, but I don't think the Church would ever say they're immoral in and of themselves.

I also think that tasteful religious tattoos are in a different sort of category. For example, there is a custom among Coptic Christians in Muslim to have a small cross tattooed on their wrist. The idea there is that marking themselves with a cross, they are professing their faith in a permanent way---i.e., they couldn't deny their faith even if they were pressured to do so by force or threat of violence. 

[DominicanHeart]

1 hour ago, Nihil Obstat said:

My priest actually will not marry a couple if the bride's dress exposes her shoulders.  

We had Priests like that before. I'm actually surprised my Pastor hasn't gotten to that point yet. But we don't have that many weddings anyway. And when we do, he stands at the bottom of the steps now during the vows because he was tired of the brides with low cut dresses.

[Nihil Obstat]

1 hour ago, Maggyie said:

Well that's too bad, people are entitled within canonical limits to the sacraments and strapless wedding dresses really don't cause scandal anymore (says the girl who wore long sleeves) 

In his capacity as the priest tasked with preparing a couple for holy matrimony, he considers it important for the couple's spiritual well-being that they observe a high standard of modesty. He is well within his rights.

[Gabriela]

I have a pretty large tattoo on my right forearm and it shows pretty much all the time cuz it extends down to my wrist. I agree with a lot of the negative things that have been said about tattoos: They're expensive (and more importantly, an unnecessary expense). They can be extremely ugly and they are always extremely ugly in old age. They should be considered for a very long time before getting them, etc.

I had heard that they're addictive, but I think that depends more on the personality of the person and their intentions for getting them.

If I had it to do over again, I would not get the tattoo that I have, but not because of its content. (It's a tree of life, of sorts.) I would not get it simply because the artist did a crappy job. I was young and impatient and so took the first guy who'd tattoo me at 17. Mea culpa.

I do have ideas for other tattoos that I would like to get (of a religious nature), but I don't think I'd ever get another one at this point. It's just a waste of money to me now.

One thing I can say is great about my tattoo: I am openly religious, and a lot of people make negative judgments about me when they discover that (which is usually very soon after meeting me). When they see I have a tattoo, they assume I'm "not one of those judgmental religious people". Which is not true in many cases, and is kind of asinine to assume, frankly, but it does help me to connect with people who would otherwise shut me out because I'm religious. I do not, of course, judge people with tattoos, or piercings, or purple hair or what have you. I had all of those things at one point. (I still have them all but the purple hair.) I'm happy that my appearance—in some ways—makes me relatable to people who would otherwise shun all religious individuals.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

3 hours ago, Nihil Obstat said:

My priest actually will not marry a couple if the bride's dress exposes her shoulders.  

At the time I got married (post Vatican II but before most Phatmassers were born) if I memory serves, this was the rule for the entire Archdiocese of Los Angeles (where I was married). (Not that I wanted a strapless dress in any case.) Personally, I think that it is fine if a bride wants a strapless dress, but for the Mass she can wear a simple "bolero" style jacket to cover her upper arms. But don't get me started about the appropriateness of very low-cut or backless bridal gowns in church. Then, if she wants, the bride can take off the jacket for the reception afterwards.

 

Edited April 3, 2016 by IgnatiusofLoyola

[Nihil Obstat]

21 minutes ago, IgnatiusofLoyola said:

At the time I got married (post Vatican II but before most Phatmassers were born) if I memory serves, this was the rule for the entire Archdiocese of Los Angeles (where I was married). (Not that I wanted a strapless dress in any case.) Personally, I think that it is fine if a bride wants a strapless dress, but for the Mass she can wear a simple "bolero" style jacket to cover her upper arms. But don't get me started about the appropriateness of very low-cut or backless bridal gowns in church. Then, if she wants, the bride can take off the jacket for the reception afterwards.

 

Yes, my wife wore that sort of jacket. To me that is equivalent to a dress which covers the shoulders on its own; the jacket is basically the same garment as far as I am concerned.

A good friend of mine actually purchased a strapless dress and had a seamstress add shoulders and a higher neckline. Frankly, not that it is relevant, I think the dress looked better like that anyway.

[Maggyie]

2 hours ago, Nihil Obstat said:

Yes, my wife wore that sort of jacket. To me that is equivalent to a dress which covers the shoulders on its own; the jacket is basically the same garment as far as I am concerned.

A good friend of mine actually purchased a strapless dress and had a seamstress add shoulders and a higher neckline. Frankly, not that it is relevant, I think the dress looked better like that anyway.

That's what I did - bought strapless and had a dressmaker fix it. At that time there was just about 1 dress with sleeves available on the market. I've noticed that since the wedding of Kate and William there are a lot more options with sleeves. 

[Nihil Obstat]

29 minutes ago, Maggyie said:

That's what I did - bought strapless and had a dressmaker fix it. At that time there was just about 1 dress with sleeves available on the market. I've noticed that since the wedding of Kate and William there are a lot more options with sleeves. 

Americans be jelly because they left the Commonwealth.

[Benedictus]

I wouldn't and I would also discourage others. I don't understand why anyone would have a big flashy tattoo, especially if they were a Christian. Marking the body is frowned upon in the Bible, although for slightly different reasons, but the criticisms aren't that difficult to apply to current trends.

It seems akin to spraying a church with graffiti, although at least that is easier to get off. Our bodies should be a place for the indwelling of the holy spirit and shouldn't be marked with icons and, in some respects, fairly awful images.

That being said I wouldn't make a big deal out of it in RL with people who already have them as people make mistakes, change their lives around etc and shouldn't feel shamed for things that are long forgiven. The penance surely is having to live with them unless they can get them removed, probably at great expense and pain.

Edited April 4, 2016 by Benedictus

[Ice_nine]

might as well get "property of Satan" tattooed on youj if you're going to get any ink.

[Not A Real Name]

I dont know of any tattoos I would want. Plus we've come to a point where not having a tattoo makes you one of the rebels, so I got that going for me.

[Kia ora]

 

Ta moko is part of maori culture. Its their business what they do with their body. Not my place to judge. 

[4LoveofJMJ]

Thanks for your replies guys! I used to hate tattoos and never understood why people got them. As I got older, I started meeting people who had them and they told me their reasoning behind getting them. While I still don't completely like tattoos, I can see why some people get them. Now I probably will never get one but every now and then I wonder what I would get if I ever did. I definitely would not mind getting a religious tattoo but haven't found one I like yet. Maybe a Sacred Heart, Divine Mercy, or Marian symbol of some sort. It would be in a discrete place of course since my mom would probably have a heart attack or worse if she ever saw it. Besides she made it very clear that if she saw me with a tattoo on my wedding day it would ruin the entire day for her. She would not be a happy camper. Thankfully I love dresses with sleeves anyway.

[4LoveofJMJ]

On 4/2/2016, 7:28:29, beatitude said:

I like henna art (I was a bridesmaid at the wedding of a Pakistani friend and I loved the designs that we had on our hands and feet) but that's temporary and it lasts a couple of weeks at most. I wouldn't want a permanent tattoo. I don't think it's immoral, but I don't see the appeal of dying something into your skin that will be very painful and expensive to remove should you change your mind ten years down the line. I also don't think they look that nice. To each their own.

I've had a henna tattoo before and they are pretty cool! It would probably be a good way of test running the design you want before you actually get it done by a tattoo artist.

Some friends and I are going to a festival in a couple of weeks where there will be a person doing henna tattoos and I really hope I can get something like this done. If I were to ever get a frivolous tattoo done, this would be along the lines of something I would get. I absolutely love bows! Thankfully the henna is not permanent.