Baptism question for those with non-Catholic family

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Only one catholic Godparent is required. You might call the parish office, ask to speak to the priest who will be baptizing your baby and see if he has any suggestions. My mother went through this when my sister was born just a few months after moving to a small town in 1957. You might inquire if there is a young adult who would be a good fit. For example, my 20-year old daughter would be overjoyed if someone were to ask her at this stage of her life, and she would be all over doing stuff for the kiddo to help with catholic education.
 
I don’t know if this was mentioned earlier, but could you ask another priest in your area to be the Godfather? I know priests can serve as someone’s Confirmation sponsor, so it may also be acceptable for Baptism.

I’m sure you know more than one priest. And I don’t think any family members would object to it either!
 
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You have ZERO Catholic acquaintances form the parish you attend regularly?
Just ask them, and tell your family you chose them because they are good Catholics.

Plenty of people have chosen relatives who don’t give a thing about helping you raise the child in the faith and don’t practice. That is FAR worse. .
 
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ConfusedLucy said:
This was several years ago and a different town, I didn’t really become close with any of the other volunteers, different life stages I guess. I’m just not that great at parish life and haven’t ever met anyone I have really clicked with.
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Perhaps this is God’s way of encouraging you to reach out to people in your parish. We’re meant to practice “in communion” - not only in communion with God, but also with each other. Is there a women’s prayer group, perhaps? Many older women would love to have the opportunity to stand as a godparent and gain a de facto grandchild in the process. They are wonderful resources for both you and your child in your faith journeys.
 
tweedlealice said:
Maybe they’d let you have 3 or 4 GP’s.
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The Church says you should have 1, if possible, but you may have a maximum of 2, 1 male, 1 female.

I know different priests have allowed different things but it should not be expected.
 
That’s it! That’s for the clarification.

How many Christian Witnesses can you have?
 
You may have one Christian Witness. They must be validly baptized (Christian) and they cannot be a lapsed Catholic. The Christian Witness must be of the opposite sex of the Godparent.

Godmother + Male CW
Godmother + Godfather
Female CW + Male Godfather

Only Godmother
Only Godfather

A CW cannot stand alone as sponsor.
 
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I am hoping to get to know people at my parish better and I am hoping we will live here long term but it’s a slow process. I don’t have anyone close enough to ask yet.

None of my friends or family are Catholic, some are Christian and some are lapsed Catholic. If I have to have Godparents picked out then I don’t think it’s unreasonable for them to have a criminal records check, I thought it was standard for any roles involving children.
 
I was thinking along the lines of…

Christian couple (male and female) the parents are friends with, not lapsed Catholics but baptized, acting as the Witnesses, then the person the parish recommends as the Godmother / Godfather.
 
I am getting baptised next week (Easter Vigil) and have no Catholic or even Christian family, no one I could have asked to sponsor me anyway. However although I’ve only been at the parish less than two years I have plenty of people there that I would have been comfortable asking and have actually asked one to be my sponsor. There isn’t anyone around my age, or really within 10 years of it.

I think I would feel very awkward if someone asked me for a criminal check when asking me to fill the role of Godparent, that sounds very untrusting, and like you didn’t want me to get to know you or your child on a personal level. You have those for a working with children situation, being a Godparent is a relationship not a job!
 
You cant really assign a relationship though, it either develops or doesn’t so I guess I see it more like a job. I think when it’s a stranger it’s pretty normal to get a criminal records check, you’d expect it for a Childs catechist or Sunday school teacher.
 
Just as an aside, my godfather was a man I met my first night at RCIA. I knew no one and had no one who could stand as a sponsor. He helped with the class and went to the priest after to offer to stand with me.

He has, in many ways, become like a second father. Since my relationship with my own father is quite troubled, he really is the example of unconditional love that I am told I can expect from our Heavenly Father.

So, sometimes being placed in these relationships is a blessing in disguise.
 
I’d be ok to take that risk as an adult but more reluctant on behalf of a child.
 
But lots of people who volunteer in parishes have these checks, I’ve had them in the past, I don’t see it as offensive, its just a precaution to help keep vulnerable people safe.
 
I thought you were supposed to baptise as soon as possible though, it could take a while to build up a real friendship to the point that they would be involved with your children. I’m not sure what to do for the best. I wish I had Catholic friends but I have had to move a few times and I’m not great at making new friends quickly.
 
Cecilia_Dympna said:
maybe postpone the baptism for 12 months
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Do not follow this advice.

Can. 867 §1. Parents are obliged to take care that infants are baptized in the first few weeks; as soon as possible after the birth or even before it, they are to go to the pastor to request the sacrament for their child and to be prepared properly for it.

§2. An infant in danger of death is to be baptized without delay.

You can just ask someone who’s in a position that already required them to undergo a CBC.
 
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No, there can only be one Christian Witness along with one Catholic Baptismal Sponsor aka Godparent.
 
Godparents (who are outside of family or established family friends) are involved in the way that they pray for your child, send them a card at Christmas, a First Communion gift, say HI at Mass. You are not sending your child for sleep-overs with a stranger.
 
We have this issue every time we have a baby. First of all, it’s the awkward search among people we aren’t very close to for someone willing to be the Godparent. Then the uncomfortable conversations with all the relatives about why we chose a virtual stranger over family members that actually love the kid. We do this because we have to, but we have no love for the “Godparent” tradition. In our family, all it does is make a what should be a joyful event into an awkward family controversy.
 
You have time now to make friends, just join whatever group is going on in the evening and starting chatting to people, they will love that you are a younger person there, and soon you’ll get to know other people, probably even offer to knit you things for the baby too! You don’t need to have a stranger be the Godparent if you aren’t a stranger to the people in the parish, you have to make the effort to get to know the people there
 
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