Baptismal Sponsor?

[Sorbetto]

Greetings, all. I have just begun the RCIA process , with my significant other (we are unmarried, but will be married within a few years) as my sponsor.

The Sister in charge mentioned to me that she was not sure what canon law dictates, but she was thinking I might need a female baptismal sponsor (not just my sponsor, who is male). This would not be a problem, but I was curious as to whether any of you know this for a fact.

 

[Kielbasi]

The Sister in charge mentioned to me that she was not sure what canon law dictates, but she was thinking I might need a female baptismal sponsor (not just my sponsor, who is male). This would not be a problem, but I was curious as to whether any of you know this for a fact.

That isn’t true at all, its certainly possibly to have a godparent of either gender.

The only rule is if you have 2 godparents one has to be a man, and the other a woman.

But the problem that you may come across is that it is unlawful for a Catholic to marry their own godparent. Its too close of a relationship, banned by the same church law which bars siblings or first cousins from getting married in the church.

 

[otm]

You could have someone sponsor youthrough the process. If you have not been baptised in a Christian church in a baptims that is recognized by the Catholic Church, then you would need to be baptized to enter the church, and at that point you would need at least one godparent.

The godparent(s) duty is to assist you in your faith, should your parents not be able to. If your parents are not Catholic, it would make sense that your goadparent(s) might be someone you turn to with questions or struugles with faith.

The godparent(s) must be Catholic - which only makes sense, as it is not reasonable to expect that a non-Catholic would be able to assist you as a Catholic would.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Sorbetto:

Greetings, all. I have just begun the RCIA process , with my significant other (we are unmarried, but will be married within a few years) as my sponsor.

The Sister in charge mentioned to me that she was not sure what canon law dictates, but she was thinking I might need a female baptismal sponsor (not just my sponsor, who is male). This would not be a problem, but I was curious as to whether any of you know this for a fact.

You simply need one Sponsor, Male or Female at your preference who meets the other Canon Law requirements. At least 16 yrs old, Confirmed, in good standing with the Church and an active practicing Catholic.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Kielbasi:

That isn’t true at all, its certainly possibly to have a godparent of either gender.

The only rule is if you have 2 godparents one has to be a man, and the other a woman.

But the problem that you may come across is that it is unlawful for a Catholic to marry their own godparent. Its too close of a relationship, banned by the same church law which bars siblings or first cousins from getting married in the church.

No it’s not an impediment to Marriage.

A parent however cannot be their own childs Godparent.

On top of that we may only be speaking of a Sponsor and not technically a Godparent if she is already Baptized.

 

[Kielbasi]

No it’s not an impediment to Marriage.

Are you sure on this?

Marriage to godparents was prohibited by civil law in Catholic countries(a Basque was executed for the crime in Portugal- in Voltaire’s Candide, I assume that this was taken from church law.

 

[puzzleannie]

when we have children or youth being baptized, they will need help getting dressed afterward, so if one of the godparents is not of the same gender, a parent or other relative will have to help. Otherwise, the requirement is for one godparent, but if there are two, one must be male and one female. They do not need to be married, but if married, must be married in the Church. RCIA director will give you the full requirements in due course.

 

[bauerice]

I work in RCIA. If you are not Baptized you need a sponsor and 2 Godparents but, your sponsor can be one of your Godparents. I have never heard that if your Godparent was also your fiancee it would keep you from marriage.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

bauerice:

I work in RCIA. If you are not Baptized you need a sponsor and 2 Godparents but, your sponsor can be one of your Godparents. I have never heard that if your Godparent was also your fiancee it would keep you from marriage.

In Canon Law Baptism (except emergency) requires only one Godparent. That includes adult Baptism through RCIA. The Sponsor may become the Godparent. The Catechumen can also choose another Godparent instead of the person who acted as Sponsor or in addition to. If in addition they must be of the opposite gender from the Sponsor.

 

[cameron_lansing]

bauerice:

I work in RCIA. If you are not Baptized you need a sponsor and 2 Godparents but, your sponsor can be one of your Godparents. I have never heard that if your Godparent was also your fiancee it would keep you from marriage.

You may have your own experience in mind, but as noted previously, only one sponsor is needed for licit baptism apart from emergency. (c. 872)

Eastern Catholics may incur the impediment of spritual relationship, which was suppressed in the Code of Canon Law for the Latin Church.

Under the former code of the Latin Church, baptism created a marriage impediment between the person baptized and the minister of baptism as well as between the godparents and the person baptized (1917CIC c. 768).

This impediment is retained in the Eastern Churches, and exists between the godparents and the person baptized, and between the godparents and the parents of the person baptized. (CCEO c. 811 §1).

However, it is dispensible.

 

[cameron_lansing]

Kielbasi:

Are you sure on this?
Marriage to godparents was prohibited by civil law in Catholic countries(a Basque was executed for the crime in Portugal- in Voltaire’s Candide, I assume that this was taken from church law.

As I noted, this discipline of the impediments was eventually removed in the Latin Church. But as a historical note to explain that. . .

Tertullian (de Bapt.) is the first to mention sponsors for baptism, and it appears only one was originally needed. However, the institute seemed to develop on the basis of an analogy of spiritual parenthood to natural parenthood. This analogy of parenthood was confirmed at the time of Thomas since he writes in Summa Theologica III-67-8 of a copaternity arising from the lifting of the child from the font by the godfather. The imitation developed further into the use of godfather and godmother. However various synodal decrees during the middle ages set the number at 2, 3, and 4. Trent limited the number of sponsors to two.

Some kind of impediment to marriage based on the spiritual relationship created by baptism appeared as early as the Code of Justinian (530 AD). They and other impediments continued in various forms throughout the Middle Ages and expanded.

Prior to the Council of Trent, the impediment forbade even marriage between the godparents themselves (and with the baptized one, or between the natural parents and the godparents). This was simplified at Trent, but the impediment of the sponsor and the baptized was maintained in canon 768 of the 1917 code.

The Catechism of the Council of Trent provides that: “The number of sponsors is limited by the Council of Trent to one godfather or one godmother, or at most, to a godfather and a godmother; because a number of teachers may confuse the order of discipline and instruction, and also because it was necessary to prevent the multiplication of affinities which would impede a wider diffusion of society by means of lawful marriage.”

 

[Sorbetto]

I have not been baptized anywhere, so this will be necessary for me.

I appreciate all your replies. My main question is, can someone I will be marrying be my godparent?

 

[cameron_lansing]

Sorbetto:

I have not been baptized anywhere, so this will be necessary for me.I appreciate all your replies. My main question is, can someone I will be marrying be my godparent?

If the person you marry is not an Eastern Catholic and if your baptism did not result in your becoming an Eastern Catholic, yes. Even then the Church law can be relaxed to permit that.
Again, you can discuss that with whomever guides the RCIA in your parish.

 

[kage_ar]

In the RCIA programs I’ve known, the spouse/fiancée could not be the Godparent/Sponsor – reasons being practical. The spouse/fiancée is not objective in the process – for instance, should the candidate/cathechumen have real questions or struggles, they should have a trusted Catholic to go to for advice or council or prayer, and that advice and council can be a bit clouded by the eyes of one who is “in love” J While the spouse/fiancée was encouraged to attend RCIA along side, a non-marital partner sponsor was found. Many times, the Catholic spouse/fiancée acted as a sponsor for someone else in the group,

Ask your RCIA director, they will find a good Godparent/sponsor for you!

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

kage_ar:

In the RCIA programs I’ve known, the spouse/fiancée could not be the Godparent/Sponsor – reasons being practical. The spouse/fiancée is not objective in the process – for instance, should the candidate/cathechumen have real questions or struggles, they should have a trusted Catholic to go to for advice or council or prayer, and that advice and council can be a bit clouded by the eyes of one who is “in love” J While the spouse/fiancée was encouraged to attend RCIA along side, a non-marital partner sponsor was found. Many times, the Catholic spouse/fiancée acted as a sponsor for someone else in the group,

Ask your RCIA director, they will find a good Godparent/sponsor for you!

Nothing in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults prohibits a spouse/fiancée from being a Sponsor/Godparent. Nothing in Canon Law prohibits it. The parish RCIA director cannot make up rules for their specific process either.

In the past several years we have had dozens of wives sponsoring husbands and husbands sponsoring wives. As well as a dozen or so fiancée relationships as Catechumen/Candidate and Sponsor. Some of the Marriages took place before the Easter Vigil others took place after.

 

[kage_ar]

Br. Rich SFO:

Nothing in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults prohibits a spouse/fiancée from being a Sponsor/Godparent. Nothing in Canon Law prohibits it. The parish RCIA director cannot make up rules for their specific process either.
{QUOTE]

I can only speak for the 2 parishes where I have been involved, and what the practice was there, and for the reasons satated in my earlier post. I never meant to imply that this was canon law - this was the practice in the RCIA programs in 2 different cities - that is all. The reasons that were given made sense to me, and none of the canidates had any issue with it… sorry that I offeneded, I’m not a deacon or a canon law expert.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

kage_ar:

Br. Rich SFO:

Nothing in the R

ite of Christian Initiation of Adults prohibits a spouse/fiancée from being a Sponsor/Godparent. Nothing in Canon Law prohibits it. The parish RCIA director cannot make up rules for their specific process either.
{QUOTE]

I can only speak for the 2 parishes where I have been involved, and what the practice was there, and for the reasons satated in my earlier post. I never meant to imply that this was canon law - this was the practice in the RCIA programs in 2 different cities - that is all. The reasons that were given made sense to me, and none of the canidates had any issue with it… sorry that I offeneded, I’m not a deacon or a canon law expert.

I sorry if I sounded Like I was jumping up and down. I just see so many RCIA processes that seem to make it up as they go.