Cosmetic Surgery

Dear Victorious,

Is it a sin to get a facelift? Some of my friends think it is. Others say that the body is the temple and joke that they're just renovating the temple. What's the truth?

Keenan M. - Half Moon Bay, CA

Dear Keenan,

Getting the facelift is not the sin. The sin would be found in the reasons for getting the facelift. It is not a sin to take care of ourselves, dress well, etc. So put the facelift in that context. But it is a sin to be vain, selfish, self-centered, etc. It is a sin to spend money we don't have. It is a sin to disregard the needs of the poor. It is a sin to be jealous of others. So the facelift is not a sin ... but there could be plenty of sin behind the facelift.