Q. Can a man enter the seminary with tattoos?
A. Tattoos certainly seem to be more in vogue now than at any point in my life. I have no idea why this is the case. But, as with all aspects of secular culture, the prevalence of tattoos has affected Catholics, as well. It is now not uncommon to see Catholics with visible tattoos. So, it stands to reason that the likelihood of a young Catholic man with a tattoo entering the seminary has increased. Would he be prevented from entering the seminary because he has a tattoo?
Like every question, this one needs some context. First, the Church does not teach that getting a tattoo is inherently sinful. While the injunction against getting a tattoo present in the Book of Leviticus is sometimes cited as grounds for saying tattoos are sinful, there are a lot of things that Leviticus says are sinful that we as Catholics would disregard.
Of course, just because something isn’t explicitly forbidden does not mean it is a good idea, so there are many well-reasoned arguments against Catholics getting tattoos, usually rooted in the idea that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and we should not deface it.
Regardless of how well reasoned and potentially valid these arguments are, the Church does not teach that getting a tattoo is inherently sinful. It is potentially sinful though, depending on the tattoo. Having something explicit or demonic or blasphemous tattooed on oneself is certainly sinful, not because it is a tattoo, but because it is expressing something explicit, demonic, or blasphemous. If someone is willing to permanently mark himself with something of this nature, then the fact that he has a tattoo is pretty far down the list of concerns a diocese would have in regard to accepting him as a seminarian.
So, getting back to the question at hand and adding some nuance to it, can a young man who has a tattoo that is not something that is contrary to the Faith enter the seminary? Maybe. At least there is no Church policy against it.
However, it is important to remember that no one has a right to enter the seminary – tattooed or not. A man has to be accepted by a bishop who sponsors him as a seminarian for his diocese, and then be accepted by a seminary itself. Just because someone wants to enter the seminary does not mean he gets to. Could a bishop decide not let a young man enter the seminary because he has a tattoo? Absolutely.
In a situation in which a young man had a full-face tattoo or something extreme that could not be covered up, it is easier to understand why he would be denied entry to the seminary. Insofar as possible, there should not be any obstacles that would prevent someone from approaching his or her priest, and if a pastor had a face tattoo of a tiger with eagle wings playing guitar and breathing fire—even though such an image is not contrary to the Faith—a person might think twice about entrusting the salvation of his or her soul to this man’s pastoral wisdom, which would make a bishop less inclined to accept him as a seminarian for his diocese.
Does having a face tattoo mean you can’t be a good priest? Of course not. Having a tattoo, even an extreme one, is not grounds for making a moral judgment about a person. There are plenty of people with visible tattoos who are good people. But someone who has an extreme, visible tattoo might keep people from getting to know him or her because of preconceived notions. As much as we might want to rail against this mindset, it is a real mindset, and we have to live in the real world, even as we try to change it. Bishops do not have the luxury of admitting young men to the seminary to prove a point about judging a person by his appearance.
Ultimately, the answer to the question “can you enter the seminary with tattoos” is “if your bishop allows you to.” If it is something that is not contrary to the faith and is covered by clothing, chances are, a bishop would accept the person. If a man has a tattoo of something contrary to the Faith or a very visible, extreme tattoo, the likelihood that a bishop would accept him decreases.
Remember, no one has a right to enter the seminary. And just because a man is not accepted by a seminary does not mean he is a bad Catholic or a bad person. Neither does having a tattoo make someone a bad Catholic or a bad person. Interior disposition will always matter more than the exterior, regardless of one’s state in life.
This question was answered by Father Caleb La Rue, chancellor of the Diocese of Lincoln. Write to Ask the Register using our online form, or write to 3700 Sheridan Blvd., Suite 10, Lincoln NE 68506-6100. All questions are subject to editing. Editors decide which questions to publish. Personal questions cannot be answered. People with such questions are urged to take them to their nearest Catholic priest.
