Tattoos: the devil is in the detail

Q: In recent years I have seen more and more young people with large tattoos and earrings on all parts of their face. Personally, I find them repugnant. Are they immoral?

A: Tattooing is an ancient practice. The body of a man found frozen in a glacier between Italy and Austria in 1991, dating to around 3300BC, had several tattoos on it and tattooed mummies have also been discovered in Egypt, dating to around 2000BC.

Because the practice was widespread among the peoples around the Israelites and sometimes associated with idolatry or other immoral practices, God specifically forbade certain body markings at the time of Moses, around 1200BC: “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh on account of the dead or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the Lord” (Lev 19:28).

The general moral framework within which tattoos, other body markings and piercings are to be evaluated is the fact that man is made in the image and likeness of God and should reflect this image in all his actions. Not only the soul but also the body is a masterpiece of God and should be treated with great respect, reflecting the beauty God gave it. Even more, as St Paul teaches, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? ... So glorify God in your body” (1 Cor 6:19).

In certain cultures, body markings such as cuts in the skin, marks on the forehead, tattoos and piercings for earrings are regarded as manifestations of beauty, or may signify something about the status of the person within society. As long as they are not dangerous to health and not extreme, they are morally acceptable.

But there can be reasons why some tattoos and body piercings are immoral, and hence each case must be evaluated on its own.

The first consideration to bear in mind is the motivation for having the tattoo or body piercing. While some people may do so moved by the desire to enhance beauty or standing in the community, others may do so moved by a rejection of society, or by self-hatred or loathing, just as they may deprive themselves of food or cut their skin, leaving scars, for this reason. This latter motivation is certainly sinful, as would be mere vanity or the immature desire to be accepted by others.

A second consideration is what is depicted. Historically, and even today, some Christians may have discreet tattoos of symbols including the Cross, Our Lady, etc. If other moral criteria are fulfilled, such tattoos may be morally acceptable. However, many choose to depict symbols of death, evil, violence or even Satan in their tattoos. These often manifest a rejection of God and his love and are, of course, sinful.

In general, anything which truly enhances the beauty of the body, made in the image of God, will reflect God himself and be acceptable. But some body markings are in bad taste and an attempt to destroy the beauty of God’s creation, thus becoming an attack on God himself.

Third is the extent of the tattooing or body piercing. While one or two discreet tattoos may be acceptable, tattoos covering a great part of the body are excessive and can hide the body’s natural beauty. Similarly, while piercings for earrings are common and acceptable, other facial piercings only detract from natural beauty and some are downright ugly. Moreover, many such body markings are not socially acceptable and may prevent the person from obtaining a job or position in society.

A fourth consideration is possible danger to health. Some tattoos and facial rings are prone to infection and constitute an unnecessary danger to health. Also, they are often permanent, or removal can itself be a danger to health and leave permanent scars. As such, they are forbidden by the fifth commandment.

While the Catechism of the Catholic Church says nothing about tattoos or body piercings, the criteria just mentioned can be useful in evaluating their morality in individual cases.

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