Posted on 11/08/2025 7:41:17 AM PST by DoodleBob
…The Catholic Church has no official, binding doctrine on tattoos. You won’t find a paragraph in the Catechism of the Catholic Church saying, “Thou shalt not ink thy skin.” This silence leaves room for interpretation, guided by broader principles like respect for the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and the virtues of prudence and modesty.
Pope Francis has even chimed in with a surprisingly open take. In 2018, during a meeting with young Catholics, he responded to a seminarian’s question about tattoos by saying, “Don’t be afraid of tattoos.” He noted their historical use among Christians—like pilgrims getting crosses in the Holy Land—and suggested they can spark conversations about faith and belonging (Catholic News Service, 2018). That said, the Vatican recently banned visible tattoos for St. Peter’s Basilica workers in 2024…
…
Fr. Chad Ripperger’s Take
Fr. Chad Ripperger stands out among critics. A member of the Fraternal Society of Saint Peter (FSSP) and a well-known exorcist, he’s vocal about tattoos in his lectures. He argues they violate natural law by altering the body unnecessarily, calling them a form of mutilation. Religious tattoos, he says, are “the worst,” as they misuse sacred symbols in a sinful context. He’s even claimed modern tattoo ink might be “cursed,” linking it to demonic influence (Sensus Fidelium). On X, followers amplify this, with posts from March 27, 2025, citing his view that “Jesus and Mary are not meant to be inked on our arms.”
Ripperger’s perspective isn’t Church doctrine—it’s his application of theology and exorcism experience. Critics of his stance, like some on Reddit’s r/Catholicism, call him a “scrupulosity factory,” arguing he oversteps official teaching with personal opinions (Reddit, 2024). Still, his influence among traditionalists is undeniable.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacerdotus.com ...
Here is a brief video of exorcists Fr Ripperger and, separately, Msgr. Stephen Rossetti explaining their anti-tattoo stances.
FWIW, Fr Ripperger’s videos are awesome.
I like tattoos, because it really helps to identify who to avoid, nose rings even more so!
Critics of his stance, like some on Reddit’s r/Catholicism, call him a “scrupulosity factory,”
__________
Scrupulosity is real, and a real issue for some.
Fr. Ripperger however is consistently focused less on minor subjects and more on the real meat and potatoes of the One True Faith, unadorned, and without added sweeteners. His voice, demeanor and content, even his foibles, including occasional wonkishness and jokes that don’t quite hit, are endearing, and give people confidence to stay the course and amend their lives, even if slowly, or “unevenly”.
Years ago, tats were covered up in business. Women had normal earrings (though one guy had a post in one ear, and THAT was revolutionary).
Now, some people come to the office - if they aren’t fulltime remote employees - like they work at Hot Topic.
I agree, these can be yellow flags. As for the soul, the tattooed person may be clueless.
I see this topic progressing like cremation on a theological basis.
Not wasting time trying to get them septum-piercers to change teams, are you TF09. Lol
If Ripperger’s stance is contrary to that of Reddit, you know he’s on solid ground.
I find Ripperger’s videos to be 100% excellent. Small wonder why some dislike him. His insights into the demonic and the way to holiness are magnificent.
Teddy Roosevelt, Andrew Jackson, Thomas Edison, Winston Churchill and even SoW Pete Hegseth had/have tattoos to just name few.
I an not a Catholic Christian, but belong to another Christian denomination.
I THOROUGHLY agree with Father Rippinger.
In addition to the scriptural reasons he cites, they are just disgusting, barbaric and primitive.
Well, nobody is perfect.
Had they watched Fr Ripperger’s videos, maybe they would have avoided the needle.
Welcome to jamaica, have a Nice DaY.
Leviticus 19:28
“You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead, nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD.”
“Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.” (King James Version)
The irony with having tattoos is that while you are “expressing your individuality,” you end up looking like everyone else with tattoos. From a distance they all look the same.
I like to tell younger people that if you want to stand out in a crowd these days, having your body undefiled by tattoos and piercings is a great way to do it. You would be in the minority for sure.
One was completing the Camino Santiago pilgrimage in Spain in the Holy Year of Mercy in 2016. I did it by myself, no tour, not partners, just myself. I attended Mass at several major Cathedrals along the way. It was transformative.
The other was completing a pilgrimage in England starting in Bristol and ending in Canterbury. The first pilgrimage was so inspiring, I decided to do a second one. Again, I stopped at major Cathedrals and Abbeys. I also spent a very long lunch at the Avebury stone circles.
There is nothing quick like setting off on a challenging journey by yourself, while testing your body and your spirit. It gives you time to think and contemplate what is truly important and how blessed you are.
If I were to get a tattoo, it would be two to commemorate those experiences.
I haven't given the chapter or verse because we all need to read the actual document and not rely on my dissertation of the information.
Leviticus 19:28 says You shall not make any cuts on your body [in mourning] for the dead, nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves; I am the Lord.
Don’t give me that is just “the old testament nonsense.
Matthew 5:17 NIV (red letters, the very words of Jesus)
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Regardless of other men in history who have made poor choices, the fact still remains that the two most distinguishing characteristics of the poor in America are:
obesity
tattoos
I feel that God and Jesus were pretty dang specific on sin. If they wanted tattoos to be a sin, they would not be shy about it. It’s sad this jerk thinks he can play God. And no I don’t have a single tattoo. But I don’t like people putting words into God and Jesus’ mouth. Seems arrogant and sinful.
Fr Ripperger has spent over a decade as an exorcist.
He’s conversed with demons, who Christ compels to tell the truth.
He’s relaying the learnings and experience of his Spiritual Warfare.
He’s not play God.
I watched a video of a Catholic priest who specializes in exorcisms and he stated that its common practice for tattoo ink to have gone through Satanic rituals. I had a small one on my forearm that I had removed surgically couple years ago.
Good one!
My favorite places to encounter workers with tatoos and face piercings are restaurants and health care settings.🙄😱
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.