Expert: Griff Ruby - 6/8/2007

Question
 Well, I found a church and I plan on going there this Saturday after Mass and I just wanted to know what are some of the things I will be going through because I am converting from Baptist to Catholic and am Baptized but I'm not sure what they will think about me because I have my ears pierced twice and want to get them pierced more you know on the tops but I don't know if the think piercing are a sin or not and I like having my ears pierced and I just got the tops pierced and I was wondering if they would make me take out the earrings and them grow up because I like earrings in my ears because my hair is short and when I have it up without earrings no matter what I do I look like a guy.  Any advice?

Answer
In the Old Testament, there are scriptures stating that we are not to have tattoos or "cutting of the flesh" (e.g. piercing) for these are the things the Gentiles do.  However, all of that is under the Jewish Law, and while the Christian Covenant is "guided" by that Law, it is not strictly bound to it.  For example eating pork was forbidden under that Old Testament law and yet there is nothing wrong with eating pork as a devout Catholic.
Let's just say I think it would be a bad idea, but I don't see that it would be a sin, or at the very worst case certainly not a serious one.  "Imperfection" would be the most likely nature of ears with a piercing at their tops.
Now also, are we talking one or two, or twenty per ear?  Are we talking small discreet earrings most or all the time or big jangly things at least sometimes?  Too many and/or too big might pass from the realm of "imperfection" to "venial sin," but don't ask me for a specific number as to how many or how big!  Just don't "push" it.
I seriously doubt that anyone at Church will object to you having additional piercings in your ears, but might there be other more reasonable ways to avoid "looking like a guy" such as having longer hair?  St. Paul (in the Bible) did write that a woman's long hair is her glory (1 Corinthians 11:15), and while that's not a "mandate" it certainly might be a good idea if practically and reasonably possible (I know in some cases for some women it isn't).
The interesting thing is that long hair looks feminine and makes its wearer seem, and even feel, more womanly, regardless of whether she wears it up or down, whereas the shorter it is the more she will look like a guy, even with it up (picture a Japanese Samurai with his hair up in a classical oriental topknot - you still would not mistake him for a woman).
Another thing would be your clothes.  Remember skirts and dresses?  I know many would think them passe and out of style, but to be brave enough to wear them is to embark upon a whole new life of being recognized as a woman instead of looking (and being treated) like just another guy.
Finally, just because the priest or anyone else in the Church or me doesn't forbid you to have additional ear piercings doesn't mean you can go to your parents and say "The Church says it's OK so you have to say so too."  Unless you are on your own, earning and paying your own bills etc. their opinion on this must be respected.  And even if you are on your own, their opinion still ought to count for something.
Finally, these days even guys often get earrings in all sorts of places so it's not clear how much good it would do for trying not to look like a guy.
So, I didn't say yes and I didn't say no, but I hope what I gave here will at least point out the "lay of the land" and some worthwhile things to think about as you make your decision regarding this question.