Attitudes change, and the Catholic Church and its stance on tattoos are no exception. There is only one mention of tattoos in the bible, in Leviticus 19:28 and it states “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.” As with many passages in the bible—specifically the Old Testament—this has its roots in a different time. When this was written, thousands of years ago, many Pagan peoples marked themselves with the names or symbols of their gods, and this law was laid out to set the Hebrews apart from other non-Judeo-Christian peoples. Much like the ban on eating shellfish and mixing two different clothes, this law is far less applicable in the modern world.
Today the Catholic Church is much less strict on whether followers can get tattoos, although certain designs can still elicit gasps at Sunday Mass. Generally, tattoos that are respectful and glorify God, or otherwise demonstrate the wearer’s dedication to their faith, are acceptable, although some in the old guard may still frown upon large pieces. Whatever the Church’s official stance, for many people a tattoo commemorating their faith is the ultimate public display of the importance of God in their life.