Topic: What are the Catholic Church's views on tattoos?

Source of this posting: Moderator response

Date originally posted: December 12, 2002

Moderator who originally posted this source: Fr. Robert

Question:   What are the Catholic Church's views on tattoos? I realize it is a form of marking a temple of God, but if the tattoo has significant meaning, is it looked down upon? How does Pope John Paul II feel about them?

Answer: 

Jennifer,

Traditional Catholic theology does not allow for tattoos because it is intrusive on the body without sufficient cause. If something is meaningful for us, there are other ways to express it. Besides, what if you change your mind, tattoos are difficult, expensive, and possibly painful to remove. I know of no prohibition, however, against, temporary tattoos. Consider those.
Peace,
Father Robert