CatholicNews recently posted on its Facebook page an article on tattoos and asked users for their views.The article, Tattoos are a Matter of Taste, not Morality, was written by a priest and published in the British Catholic publication, Catholic Herald.
In it, he says there are “good moral reasons not to have a tattoo; and few cogent moral reasons to justify them”.
Our Facebook users had mixed views.
One says: “CCC [Catechism of the Catholic Church] has already stated that it’s fine to have tattoos as long as it’s not vulgar or distasteful.”
However, she says that “if I ever become a parent, I’ll tell my teens that body art is a serious and irreversible act and to think HARD if they would regret it 30 years from now. I’d discourage any tattoos on the face and request to be consulted on the design … I’ll even accompany them to make sure it’s safe!”
Another user shares that “it’s too simplistic to chalk [tattoos] up to a matter of personal taste. As Christians, we are walking witnesses to the faith, and so tattooing is an issue of prudence”.
She adds, “Do our tattoos scandalise others by what they say/show? How does our social context affect how our tattoos are interpreted? ... if you lived in a society where only prostitutes or assassins had facial tattoos, then you getting a facial tattoo would probably scandalise others about the nature of your faith.”
What do you think? Go to http://www.facebook.com/TheCatholicNews/posts/169339283200847 to give your views.
