Regarding Pia de Solenni's opinion column “Tattooed In Toronto: Can Catholics Bear Body Art?” (July 14-20):

I found this piece informative. My only problem was that she failed to mention Leviticus 19:28, which speaks out against tattoos and piercings. Since she talked about Scripture, I figured it would be good to talk about the passage that states, “Do not lacerate your bodies for the dead, and do not tattoo yourselves. I am the Lord.”

DWAYNE COLEMAN JR.

Los Angeles

Pia de Solenni is right when she writes, “most of them [the young people attending World Youth Day] will be good Catholics.” And, if some of these good Catholics come to Toronto displaying “body art,” I for one will not be casting stones against them.

“The sacraments have a truly indelible, permanent nature,” she says, and that's true. If I take off my wedding ring, the sacrament of marriage is not removed; only the external identity of that sacrament is removed. If the priest removes his collar, the sacrament of Holy Orders remains; only the external identity is removed. When I die and my body goes away, the soul remains; only the external identity of the soul is removed.

These kids, these teens, these good Catholics are not trying to recreate themselves to mislead God; neither are they trying to communicate to the Church a new sign for the marriage covenant. These children want love and attention. Attention they have, but love … I wonder.

JOSEPH MATA

Rockford, Illinois