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thistle
Guest
Am I allowed to be a God father to my step-daughter’s son, i.e. my step-grandson?
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1ke
Guest
If you are Catholic and he is Catholic and you meet all of the following criteria, then yes:
Can. 872 In so far as possible, a person being baptized is to be assigned a sponsor. In the case of an adult baptism, the sponsor’s role is to assist the person in Christian initiation.** In the case of an infant baptism, the role is together with the parents to present the child for baptism, and to help it to live a Christian life befitting the baptized and faithfully to fulfill the duties inherent in baptism. **
**Can. 873 One sponsor, male or female, is sufficient; but there may be two, one of each sex. **
**Can. 874 ß1 To be admitted to undertake the office of sponsor, a person must: **
1ƒ be appointed by the candidate for baptism, or by the parents or whoever stands in their place, or failing these, by the parish priest or the minister; to be appointed the person must be suitable for this role and have the intention of fulfilling it;
2ƒ be not less than sixteen years of age, unless a different age has been stipulated by the diocesan Bishop, or unless the parish priest or the minister considers that there is a just reason for an exception to be made;
**3ƒ be a catholic who has been confirmed and has received the blessed Eucharist, and who lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken; **
**4ƒ not labor under a canonical penalty, whether imposed or declared; **
**5ƒ not be either the father or the mother of the person to be baptized. **
ß2 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.
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sfp
Guest
I see your point, but…
- Can anyone be an “unofficial” Godparent? In other words, can I have two “valid” sponsors who are the “official” Godparents according to the baptismal certificate, but also have another “witnesses” whom we call the child’s “Godparent” on an affectionate Christian level…you know, a “special aunt” who is also present at the Baptism in every other way?
, so I don’t think they really care “who’s on the certificate.” Question is, are we doing anything wrong according to the eyes of the Church by simply calling the “witness” a Godparent?- Where can I find that term Godparent being used in official text (you mentioned the “Rite of Baptism.”)? Or used interchangeably with the title “sponsor?”
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Saoirse
Guest
Is this true? If it is, does anyone know why?
Also, what if someone has already been made the godparent of a family member, say a much younger sibling or a nephew or niece, in a Protestant church, and sometime later converts to the Catholic faith?
Or say that a young convert is asked by her mother to be a godparent for her youngest sister at a non-Catholic baptism, would that be allowed?
I would think that it would be a good thing, you know? Because then that older sister would be given the chance to be a living testimony, in a very special way, to that young child.
I mean, I’m already doing everything I can to show my younger siblings just how much the Church has come to mean in my life… but I can’t attend their baptisms (if my mother ever actually gets around to doing it) or stand in as a godparent?
Saoirse
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slyboots
Guest
Catholic Godfather… and Jewish Godmother who promised to do everything in her power with God’s help to encourage the child in the Catholic faith. Although she is a woman of excellent character I was surprised the Church accepted her as Godmother.
Conversion possibility? Not likely. But only God knows what the results of this may be.
Conversion possibility? Not likely. But only God knows what the results of this may be.
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1ke
Guest
Yes, this is true. Look at the role of a sponsor. A Catholic cannot promise to instruct a child in a faith that is not the Catholic faith. For example, a godparent at a Lutheran baptism cannot profess to believe what Lutherans believe nor can they promise to teach the child the Lutheran faith.
Like a non-Catholic at a Catholic baptism, they can be the witness but cannot be a sponsor since they themselves are not a member of that faith.
They can still be a model of Christian virtue, they can be supportive of the child’s faith life, but they cannot participate in things like Lutheran communion or teach them things that are contrary to the Catholic faith.
Usually by the time a child is older the role of a “godparent” is much diminished. The person is the godparent by virtue of witnessing the baptism, but if the godparent later converts to Catholicism they should only do those things which do not conflict with the Catholic faith.
If you are asking if they are de-godparented the answer is no.
No. The Catholic could be a witness to the baptism but not a Godparent.
Except the role of godparent is more than that. A Catholic cannot teach a non-Catholic child the faith that the child is a member of, nor would the parents likely appreciate the Catholic godparent sending their kid tracts from Catholic answers on why they should convert to Catholicism.
You see, your role would be to help educate the child in the faith. The question then becomes “which faith”. The parents would expect you to help educate the child in the faith that they practice, and you as a Catholic cannot do that because they practice a faith that lacks the fullness of Truth.
There is no prohibition on you attending the baptism, or sharing your faith with the child. But, the role of Godparent belongs to someone who shares the same denomination. You can absolutely be a Christian witness to their baptism.
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KCT
Guest
“Suzie has 2 Godmothers” That could be taken wrong!
–KCT
–KCT
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Lance
Guest
In any case the role of Godparent is greatly deminished in the western world, the US at least, because even if you state in your will that the kids should go to the Godparent(s), if they are not family members there is an excellent chance the court would award them to the closest relative if they wanted them and that relative may or may not raise them Catholic. Even if you had uncles and aunts as Godparents if the grandparents wanted the kids the courts would probably give them to them.
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Karin
Guest
that is why parents in general need to state exactly what their wishes are when they die with minor kids at home!
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Lance
Guest
Totally off subject but what do you mean in your signature “Proud to be a toe-tag”? In my world a toe-tag was what we put on corpses in the morgue when I was in the service.
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
Actually it’s in the documents of Vatican II and the documents that followed on Ecumenism.
A person who is Catholic cannot be a Godparent at a protestant Baptism. It really does not make any sense, and is the complimentary of the Baptized non-Catholic who cannot be a Godparent at a Catholic Baptism.
Attend, YES, be a Godparent, NO.
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
Rite of Baptism, Rite of Confirmation, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, Canon Law.I see your point, but…
I mean afterall, this is what 90% of Americans think Godparents are anyway
- Can anyone be an “unofficial” Godparent? In other words, can I have two “valid” sponsors who are the “official” Godparents according to the baptismal certificate, but also have another “witnesses” whom we call the child’s “Godparent” on an affectionate Christian level…you know, a “special aunt” who is also present at the Baptism in every other way?
- Where can I find that term Godparent being used in official text (you mentioned the “Rite of Baptism.”)? Or used interchangeably with the title “sponsor?”
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
Yes, Grandparents may be Godparents of their Grandchildren.
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1ke
Guest
I do not believe that the role of godparents is in any way “diminished” as you assert, especially not for the reasons you give.
If there is any “diminished” role of sponsors it is because of many parents who see baptism as a cultural milestone rather than a religious one. Parents who fail to understand the role of sponsor often choose inappropriate sponsor. All of the pracitcing Catholics I know have chosen appropriate sponsors for their children who are very involved in their spiritual lives.
The scenario in which both parents die and leave a minor child behind is microscopic compared to the number of families with minor children in general. Nor is it relevant to selecting godparents. No where in Catholic canon law nor in the tradition of the church is the “sponsor” synonymous with “legal guardian in the case of parental demise”.
If parents properly establish a guardianship plan for their children in accord with the laws of their state then those wishes will be carried out upon their deaths regardless of whether they select relatives or non-relatives.
Being a godparent has nothing to do with taking guardianship of children in the case of parental death.
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kellie
Guest
My mother, my sister, my brother, and me are godparents to my cousin.
So she has 4 godparents.
No one ever told us it wasnt allowed.
So she has 4 godparents.
No one ever told us it wasnt allowed.
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Karin
Guest
Long story Lance…has nothing to do with the "dead"I can promise you that
if you want more info PM me
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Lance
Guest
If the guardian decides to bring them up as Protestant, Jewish, Hindu or what ever the Godparent(s) can do nothing about it. If the Godparent is a non-relative and the guardian decides to cut off all contact there is nothing the Godparent can do about it. It is much more important to choose who gets the kids a guardian and make sure it will be upheld in court than who you pick as Godparent(s).
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sfp
Guest
Sorry, Rich, I guess I don’t understand…were you trying to answer my questions here? Canon Law speaks to a “sponsor,” not a “Godparent.”
More importantly, I wanted to know this…
- Can anyone be an “unofficial” Godparent? In other words, can I have two “valid” sponsors who are the “official” Godparents according to the baptismal certificate, but also have another “witnesses” whom we call the child’s “Godparent” on an affectionate Christian level…you know, a “special aunt” who is also present at the Baptism in every other way?
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
Yes I was trying to simply list a few documents that reference Sponsor or Godparent or both.
Privately i suppose you could have as many as you want. However I do not encourage using or misusing a specific term such as “Godparent”. It is a specific title, for a specific person, who fulfils a specific role in the Church. I believe that it is time that Catholics begin using the correct terms in the correct context when it comes to the practice of the Catholic faith. IMO.
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kim3260
Guest
I had a different situation, one of my daughters (now 22) ended up with no Godparents, when she was only 4. Her Godmother (husbands sister) died unexpectly when she turned 3 and the Godfather (her husband) married another woman only 4 months after SIL’s death. 
(we are still in shock over this) he said he need to move to the future and leave his past behind (I know what you’re thinking, we still have unanswered questions, but that’s not the point)
Anyway, when we asked should we have new Godparents, we were told no, it can not be done, but we could ask anyone if they like to “unofficially” take on that role (which we did), my sister also became her Sponser when the time came.
(we are still in shock over this) he said he need to move to the future and leave his past behind (I know what you’re thinking, we still have unanswered questions, but that’s not the point)Anyway, when we asked should we have new Godparents, we were told no, it can not be done, but we could ask anyone if they like to “unofficially” take on that role (which we did), my sister also became her Sponser when the time came.
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