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Conference on Medicine and Religion

Radical Body Modification and Catholic Moral Tradition 

Sarah Sawicki, M.A, Ph.D. Student, Saint Louis University 

The Catholic moral tradition has long been split when it comes to body modification. Topics such as cosmetic surgery, tattoos, and piercings have been both accepted and rejected to various degrees by Catholic churches around the world. These things can be seen as modifying one’s body and therefore bring up questions regarding moral permissibility and self-mutilation. However, there are other practices that are more extreme versions of body modification, often referred to as radical body modification. This can include things such as non-medically indicated amputation, attempting to become blind, or even a desire to be paralyzed. 

Currently, there is no medical or ethical consensus regarding these kinds of requests, and there remains a great amount of controversy surrounding whether or not individuals requesting radical body modification are experiencing a physical or psychological illness, or if their autonomy ought to be respected. In this paper, I seek to explore the Catholic moral tradition to illuminate the ethics of requests for radical body modification. I will address prominent magisterial documents to determine whether radical body modification is moral, immoral, or amoral. Finally, I offer suggestions for responding to someone who desires radical body modification with compassion, love, and respect.