They must have a desire to be a godparent and be willing to help teach the faith to the child if necessary. According to the Code “a baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community may be admitted only in company with a Catholic sponsor, and then simply as a witness to the baptism” (Canon 874) Who Should Not Be A Godparent You do not intend to take the duties seriously. There is no requirement in Canon Law that the CW be of a different gender. 7. and have kept the faith over the years. Also note that these are the same requirements for confirmation sponsors. Answer: Thank you for your question regarding who may be considered as a godparent for a Catholic baptism. In the Roman Catholic Church, we have Godparents. we identify the sponsor of a child for baptism as the godparent — godmother You might not ever remember stepping inside a Catholic Church or ever […], What does Bible say about Ash Wednesday? Yes, a godparent, by definition, is Catholic – thus all godparents are Catholic. 873 There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each. [19] In England, the Synod of Worcester (1240) stipulated three sponsors (two of the same sex and one of the opposite), and this has remained the norm in the Church of England. If there are two sponsors, one must be Catholic. 0 0. The sponsor must not only have the Someone from one of the Eastern Churches may be a godparent, but only if there is also a Catholic godparent. What Does a Godparent Do at a Baptism? When it’s time for the baptism the pastor will call you forward. witness for someone who is baptized into another Christian denomination. along with the Catholic godparent. . Moreover, the sponsor cannot be impeded by some The godparent is “able and ready to help the newly baptized . Sadly, the child is 6 months old and they are currently looking to get him baptised a catholic. How strictly should the potential godparents adhere to traditional Catholic teaching? Required fields are marked *, How do I know if Im Catholic? First and foremost, they are to act as a source of prayer and example for the child being baptized. We are planning to baptize our soon to be 8 month old DD in the catholic church and are thinking we will have my parents sponsor her as godparents because we don't know any other confirmed catholics who are in good standing and that we would consider … Yes, godparents have to be Catholic. Ideally, this sponsor at baptism should also be the sponsor The Code of Canon Law (basically, the laws that govern the Church) state that godparents must be Confirmed* Catholics . The godparent needs to be a Catholic at least 16 years old who has had the sacraments of baptism, reconciliation, holy communion, and confirmation . Sadly, this task can be very difficult in today's world. Your brother and his wife do not qualify because of their irregular marriage. Do god parents have to be the same religion eg child baptised a catholic, can they be protestants god parents. It is the duty of Christian godparents to assist the parents with this all-important task. Many first time parents have questions about celebrating the Sacrament of Baptism. The role of the – Peter Turner ♦ Feb 1 '12 at 14:20 of being a part of a godchild's life for the rest of his life. This article is reprinted with permission from Arlington This statement clearly reflects the historical roots 2. They can’t be the baby’s mother or father. Parents need to find good practicing Catholics for godparents. Traditionally, these sponsors would also make the Profession of Faith in the child's name and Most of the time, no distinction is made between the two except on paper. Father William Saunders is pastor of Our Lady of Hope parish in Potomac Falls, Virginia. A Christian of another denomination, whether Orthodox or Protestant, however, may be a "Christian witness" to the baptism along with the Catholic godparent. to the beliefs of the Catholic Church. If you were baptized in a Catholic Church then you are a Catholic . role of the godparent for baptism is rooted in the role of the sponsor in the In the case in the OP it may well have been a sponsor and a Christian witness. of holy Eucharist and confirmation, and "leads a life in harmony with the faith the parish and he does not attend Mass faithfully. So if God sends you a baby in 7 years or so, and your diocese goes with canon law and nothing stronger, then you have a godmother in your daughter at that time! Baptized, participating Christians of other denominations may serve as a “Christian Witness” and be so designated in the Baptismal Register. Only a practicing Catholic who meets the qualifications of a confirmed Catholic, age 16 or older, and has received the Sacrament of the Eucharist, may be a godparent or sponsor for baptism. Sal. Have a really good think if you believe these things first. If a person is not striving to fulfill his own obligations of baptism While this makes it difficult to be a part of the child’s life, it is not impossible. to do so. The Qualifying Criteria For Godparents and Confirmation Sponsors. but...," and would not be a good example and witness to the faith also disqualifies A: That’s true; there is no mention of Ash Wednesday in the Bible . Catholic Herald. rectory office and wants me to sign a sponsor's certificate and attest that he This page explains more. Catholics can be godparents or sponsors. and confirmation, he will not fulfill the responsibilities of helping another The godparent needs to be a practicing Catholic so that they can help raise your child in the Catholic faith, a non-Catholic could not do this. Also, Here we look at whether at how many a kid can have and what their rights are\b… sponsor then was to attest to the integrity of the person, oftentimes an adult, If that is the case, neither of them could be godparent / Christian witness. Canon 873 states: "There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each." If you were baptized in a Catholic Church then you are a Catholic . It is the Catholic understanding that godparents, in a liturgical and canonical sense, should themselves be members of the Church or ecclesial community in which the baptism is being celebrated. He must be a Catholic who has received the sacraments this task can be very difficult in today's world. In my experience, most of the Catholics I know, and me included, choose our children's Godparents from among our family, who may not even be actively practicing the Faith. To be a Godparent , one must be a confirmed, practicing Catholic . In the Old Testament, Job repents “in dust and ashes,” and there are other associations of ashes and […]. It might even be better for us to take a step back from the automatic appointments of cousins as Godparents and do it more organically. a godparent should be a trustworthy witness of the faith who will help the godchild A non-Catholic person may not be a godparent at a Catholic baptism. attain salvation. © 1996-2019 Catholic Education Resource Center | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Sitemap. The sponsor Godparents should be faithful individuals who are ready to accept the responsibility The best place is to look for If a couple does not know sufficiently "qualified" godparents, is it acceptable for them to act as the godparents themselves? male and one female. the parents failed in this duty. That’s one of the definitions that Catholics use. According to Canon Law 874, Godparents must be at least sixteen years of age and fully initiated in the Roman Catholic Church. sponsors. "The Role of Godparents." Being married to someone of a particular faith has no bearing on the issue. William. Always point to God . of having numerous sponsors, as has occurred in some cultures (No. Godparents respond, “We do.” Continue to respond with that same answer. The Catholic church also require the godparent to be baptised and confirmed into the Catholic church. one sponsor for baptism — male or female, but may have two sponsors, one No matter how old they are, remind them that they are your godchild and can be childlike and innocent. But if they are working on overcoming the issues that are preventing them from getting married , then the priest would consider baptizing their child . But a non- Catholic Christian witness cannot act as a representative of the Catholic Church, which is what a sponsor does at the time of the baptism.