Baptism - Requirements of Godparents

[Nanny_DJ]

Hi All! I’m having some trouble finding answers. I sure hope SOMEONE can help me! Here’s my dilemma::banghead:

My husband was asked to be the godfather of our nephew’s son. Our niece (nephew’s sister) was asked to be the godmother. Both potential godparents are legally married, but neither have been married in the Catholic Church. When my nephew asked the priest about baptizing his son, Father told him that at least one of the godparents’ marriages had to be “blessed”. Is this true?

If this IS true, then my next question dilemma is:

If my husband and I had our marriage “blessed” in or “get married in” another church (other than a Catholic church), will the Catholic religion recogize him as a godfather.

Please help soon - our great-nephew is already 4 months old!

Thanks - Nanny DJ

 

[Shiann]

Nanny DJ:

Hi All! I’m having some trouble finding answers. I sure hope SOMEONE can help me! Here’s my dilemma::banghead:

My husband was asked to be the godfather of our nephew’s son. Our niece (nephew’s sister) was asked to be the godmother. Both potential godparents are legally married, but neither have been married in the Catholic Church. When my nephew asked the priest about baptizing his son, Father told him that at least one of the godparents’ marriages had to be “blessed”. Is this true?

If this IS true, then my next question dilemma is:

If my husband and I had our marriage “blessed” in or “get married in” another church (other than a Catholic church), will the Catholic religion recogize him as a godfather.

Please help soon - our great-nephew is already 4 months old!

Thanks - Nanny DJ

To be baptised Catholic, at least one godparent must be a Catholic in good standing. A married Catholic in good standing has a sacramental marriage.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Nanny DJ:

Hi All! I’m having some trouble finding answers. I sure hope SOMEONE can help me! Here’s my dilemma::banghead:

My husband was asked to be the godfather of our nephew’s son. Our niece (nephew’s sister) was asked to be the godmother. Both potential godparents are legally married, but neither have been married in the Catholic Church. When my nephew asked the priest about baptizing his son, Father told him that at least one of the godparents’ marriages had to be “blessed”. Is this true?

If this IS true, then my next question dilemma is:

If my husband and I had our marriage “blessed” in or “get married in” another church (other than a Catholic church), will the Catholic religion recogize him as a godfather.

Please help soon - our great-nephew is already 4 months old!

Thanks - Nanny DJ

Here are the requirements for a Godparent: They can be either male or female or one of each gender at least 16 years old. They must be a Confirmed, practicing Catholic, in good standing with the Church. (no invalid/remarriages, no canonical sanctions, no irregular marriages) If two Godparents are chosen then both must meet these requirements.

“If my husband and I had our marriage “blessed” in or “get married in” another church (other than a Catholic church), will the Catholic religion recogize him as a godfather.”

The Marriage would be valid if neither of you were Catholic at the time, or the Catholic party received permission from the Bishop to Marry in another church.

 

[puzzleannie]

Nanny DJ:

If my husband and I had our marriage “blessed” in or “get married in” another church (other than a Catholic church), will the Catholic religion recogize him as a godfather.

Please help soon - our great-nephew is already 4 months old!

Thanks - Nanny DJ

see Bro’s answer. you are now asking a question about another sacrament, marriage, and as we have said before, each case is unique, see your priest.

 

[netmilsmom]

Br. Rich SFO:

If two Godparents are chosen then both must meet these requirements.

Both of my children have a Protestant as a Godparent. Could you please give a reference to this?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

netmil(name removed by moderator):

Both of my children have a Protestant as a Godparent. Could you please give a reference to this?

In order to be a Godparent or Sponsor a person must meet the requirements as I stated above.

A non-Catholic cannot be a Godparent, They can be a Christian Witness. These terms are very specific in Canon Law. Canons 872 - 874

 

[netmilsmom]

Br. Rich SFO:

In order to be a Godparent or Sponsor a person must meet the requirements as I stated above.

A non-Catholic cannot be a Godparent, They can be a Christian Witness. These terms are very specific in Canon Law. Canons 872 - 874

Wow! It’s funny because at the parish where my children were Baptized, the Priest told me that I could have one Catholic and one Protestant Godparent.
It would be nice if we could all get on the same page.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

netmil(name removed by moderator):

Wow! It’s funny because at the parish where my children were Baptized, the Priest told me that I could have one Catholic and one Protestant Godparent.
It would be nice if we could all get on the same page.

I’m sorry that this priest was ignorant of the Canon Law of the Church. This does not in any way affect the validity of the Baptism. Your children would have one Godparent and the Protestant is simply a Christian witness to the Baptism.

 

[netmilsmom]

Br. Rich SFO:

I’m sorry that this priest was ignorant of the Canon Law of the Church. This does not in any way affect the validity of the Baptism. Your children would have one Godparent and the Protestant is simply a Christian witness to the Baptism.

Thank you for the information!

God Bless!

 

[Nanny_DJ]

I’m still confused. I understand the part about 1 Catholic, 1 Protestant, but BOTH godparents and their spouses are Catholic. The problem is that neither were “married” in the Catholic church, but are “legally” married.

 

[ames61]

I’m still confused. I understand the part about 1 Catholic, 1 Protestant, but BOTH godparents and their spouses are Catholic. The problem is that neither were “married” in the Catholic church, but are “legally” married.

As Br. pointed out the Catholic sponsor or godparent must be in good standing with the Church, which means that the marriage must be recognized by the Church (or valid).

Because marriage is such an important and permanent sacrament, the Church takes very seriously the act of entering into this sacrament. Therefore she does not presume that any marriage is valid unless she has participated in the formation of the marriage in some way. This is done when the priest or deacon witnesses the marriage, after appropriate preparation and discernment of elgibility of the man and woman entering into the sacrament.

Eligibility may be affected by things such as prior marriages, age, lack of consent, or close relation of the parties. Many marriages are legal which would not be valid in the Church, thus unless your marriage was in the Church, witnessed by a priest or deacon in another Church (or their designated representative) or permission was given by the Bishop, then the marriage is presumed to be invalid.

The invalidity of the marriage in they eyes of the Church is the impediment to your husband being a Godparent. But, assuming you have no impediments, the process to have the marriage recognized by the Church is fairly quick and can be very enriching to the couple due to the communication required. In addition, of course, to the sacramental grace recevied of having the marriage convalidated by the Church.

Hope this helps, Good luck & God bless!

 

[Nanny_DJ]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CLEARING THAT UP.

Now - you say that having our marriage “blessed” is a fairly quick process - please tell me that process. Note: My husband has not been confirmed.

 

[ames61]

Nanny DJ:

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CLEARING THAT UP.

Now - you say that having our marriage “blessed” is a fairly quick process - please tell me that process. Note: My husband has not been confirmed.

You know, I don’t think being confirmed is a requirement to be married. (Although at our parish, adult confirmands go through the RCIA process which is a huge eye opener and very spiritually awakening for most cradle Catholics)

In any event, at our parish, a couple who is already married legally, and has no other impediments (like prior marriages) would visit the pastor or deacon who would administer a ReFOCUS examine (similar to the FOCUS assessment that engaged couples go through).

He would review the results of the test with them. (Which for the people I know who have been through it was amazingly accurate in p(name removed by moderator)ointing trouble spots they already knew about and clarifying some other situations in their marriage, kind of “aha” moments!) and have a few sessions with them to go over those issues and marriage in general. THey would need to attend an NFP session (comical for those in their 60’s but part of the process here, and edifying to boot).

If no other obstructions exist, he would convalidate their marriage either privately or at a daily mass. I’ve been priviledged to witness a few of these, and each couple has been amazed at how much this meant to them, when they had no idea they were missing anything! Its a true blessing, and I’ve been halfway envious of those who got an opportunity to reiterate their vows before God and family.

This can take from a couple weeks to several months depending on how motivated the couple is and how busy the pastor is. Now that its after Easter, you probably have a better chance to get appointments scheduled!

Bear in mind that this is my take on everything as an interested lay person, but I’m pretty sure this is close to what you would go through. As I said the couples I know who have done this were greatly blessed by the process and the sacrament.

God bless,
amy

 

[Shiann]

I’m still confused. I understand the part about 1 Catholic, 1 Protestant, but BOTH godparents and their spouses are Catholic. The problem is that neither were “married” in the Catholic church, but are “legally” married.

If your husband is being asked to be Godfather,

You say here, he is Catholic.

But here:
Nancy DJ:

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CLEARING THAT UP.

Now - you say that having our marriage “blessed” is a fairly quick process - please tell me that process. Note: My husband has not been confirmed.

You say he has not been confirmed.

Maybe that is the hang-up the priest has. Your husband, though baptised Catholic, has not initiated himself into the Catholic Church through the sacrament of Confirmation. So from a Catholic perspective, he is missing 2 very important sacraments:

Marriage and Confirmation.

Before a child can be baptised, the priest must be certain that the child’s parents have the intention of raising that child Catholic. If something happens to the parents, the “duty” of nurturing that child’s spiritual growth falls with the Godparents. That is why the Catholic Church requires at least one Godparent be a Catholic in good standing. (Have all the necessary sacraments). So that the Church may rest easy, knowing that the child will not fall away from the Faith if something should happen to the parents, or if the parents waver in their duties to raise the child in the Faith.

Now can the priest reasonably assume that, though your husband may be very faithful and a kind man- and capable of accepting this honor, he is likely to nurture spiritual growth in a child when he has so greivously neglected his own?

 

[netmilsmom]

Shiann:

Before a child can be baptised, the priest must be certain that the child’s parents have the intention of raising that child Catholic.

Do you have a reference for that (for another thread)?

 

[Shiann]

netmil(name removed by moderator):

Do you have a reference for that (for another thread)?

Yup

(Canon 868.2) For the baptism of an infant, it is necessary that there be a well founded hope that the infant will be brought up in the Catholic religion. If such a hope is altogether lacking, the baptism is to be put off according to the prescriptions of a particular law and parents are to be informed of the reason.

(R.B.C. 8.2) When the parents are not yet prepared to profess the Faith or to undertake the duty of bringing up their children as Catholics, it is for the parish priest. …to determine the time for the baptism of infants. August 1996

And a source for the Godparent/confirmation/matrimony question:

(Canon 874.2) To be admitted to the role of sponsor, a person must have completed the sixteenth year. The pastor or minister of the sacrament may judge that an exception is to be made for a just cause .

(Canon 874.3) To be admitted to the role of sponsor, a person must be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. If the only condition lacking in the proposed sponsor is that he or she is not confirmed; the person should be enrolled in the RC.I.A. or in some appropriate form of adult education that the parish offers in preparation for the Sacrament o Confirmation.

(Canon 874.3) **To .be admitted to the role of sponsor, a person must be a Catholic who leads a life in harmony with the Faith and the role to be undertaken. A life in harmony with the Faith includes the sacrament of matrimony (if the sponsor is married), regular attendance at Sunday Mass and religious education of their own children. **

 

[netmilsmom]

Shiann:

Yup

You’re the best!