Can a parent sponsor a minor child in RCIA?

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aurora77

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We have a family attending RCIA. Dad is Catholic, mom and two kids are not and none of the three have been baptised. They’ve been attending Mass for years, decided now is the time to come into the Church. The kids are school aged, probably 8-12. Can Dad be the sponsor for the whole family, or do the kids need their own sponsor? I’ve been doing some research on line and it sounds like they do need a separate sponsor, but I’m not sure.
 
I did, but then they chose someone else as godparent. Heck, I even taught the catechism to them because they could not attend classes.
 
not really, however the parent can prepare the child. Once prepared a Sponsor can be appointed. The role of the Sponsor is some what undefined today

CHAPTER IV.

SPONSORS

Can. 872 Insofar as possible, a person to be baptized is to be given a sponsor who assists an adult in Christian initiation or together with the parents presents an infant for baptism. A sponsor also helps the baptized person to lead a Christian life in keeping with baptism and to fulfill faithfully the obligations inherent in it.

Can. 873 There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each.

Can. 874 §1. To be permitted to take on the function of sponsor a person must:

1/ be designated by the one to be baptized, by the parents or the person who takes their place, or in their absence by the pastor or minister and have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling this function;

2/ have completed the sixteenth year of age, unless the diocesan bishop has established another age, or the pastor or minister has granted an exception for a just cause;

3/ be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist and who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on;

4/ not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared;

5/ not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized.

§2. A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community is not to participate except together with a Catholic sponsor and then only as a witness of the baptism.
 
Texas_Roofer said:
5/ not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized.
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There you go correcting me again. Thanks. I will stand corrected. I guess then I took some of the undefined duties then and allowed the godparent the rest. We went through RCIA in a unique fashion and what me and my kids did should not really be a model for anyone else anyway.
 
aurora77 said:
We have a family attending RCIA. Dad is Catholic, mom and two kids are not and none of the three have been baptised. They’ve been attending Mass for years, decided now is the time to come into the Church. The kids are school aged, probably 8-12. Can Dad be the sponsor for the whole family, or do the kids need their own sponsor? I’ve been doing some research on line and it sounds like they do need a separate sponsor, but I’m not sure.
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if there is a Catholic parent, he can be the sponsor during the catechumenate, attend the classes with them, and the breaking open the Word sessions. He cannot be the baptismal godparent or Confirmation sponsor for the actual reception of the sacraments. That person must be a fully initiated Catholic adult, not a parent, not under canonical bar, living in accord with Catholic teaching including laws on marriage, and willing to undertake the duty. That person should take over at the time of the Rite of Election and for the rites of Lent, and of course the actual sacraments.

the canons cited above apply to this “second stage” sponsor or godparent. the confusion is that sponsor has 2 meanings in RCIA, depending on the stage.

As I say it is possible, not necessarily desireable for a parent (or spouse, or fiance) to be a sponsor for the earlier part of RCIA. This journey involves conversion and the relationship is one of church community to catechumen as much as between individuals. This depends on the dynamics between parent and child, and at least in a classroom setting, experience shows the parent is often not the best person to encourage child to say what he really thinks. our problem is parents often try to do everything for the child up to including their prayer and reflection.

Insofar as the parent is a practicing Catholic they also represent the wider community, but the community should be supplying the sponsor. Peer sponsors are also envisioned in the children’s catechumenat, which is why their class may also include baptized children who act as sponsors insofar as they model how a child lives the faith.
 
aurora77 said:
We have a family attending RCIA. Dad is Catholic, mom and two kids are not and none of the three have been baptised. They’ve been attending Mass for years, decided now is the time to come into the Church. The kids are school aged, probably 8-12. Can Dad be the sponsor for the whole family, or do the kids need their own sponsor? I’ve been doing some research on line and it sounds like they do need a separate sponsor, but I’m not sure.
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Dad can be Sponsor for Mom, with the children having another sponsor. Or each separate person can have their own sponsor. Dad can be free to attend with them and their Sponsor(s). Dad should not be Sponsor of his children. He is prohibited by Church Law from being the childrens Sponsor at Baptism and Confirmation.
 
Texas_Roofer said:
not really, however the parent can prepare the child. Once prepared a Sponsor can be appointed. The role of the Sponsor is some what undefined today

CHAPTER IV.

SPONSORS

Can. 872 Insofar as possible, a person to be baptized is to be given a sponsor who assists an adult in Christian initiation or together with the parents presents an infant for baptism. A sponsor also helps the baptized person to lead a Christian life in keeping with baptism and to fulfill faithfully the obligations inherent in it.

Can. 873 There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each.

Can. 874 §1. To be permitted to take on the function of sponsor a person must:

1/ be designated by the one to be baptized, by the parents or the person who takes their place, or in their absence by the pastor or minister and have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling this function;

2/ have completed the sixteenth year of age, unless the diocesan bishop has established another age, or the pastor or minister has granted an exception for a just cause;

3/ be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist and who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on;

4/ not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared;

5/ not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized.

§2. A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community is not to participate except together with a Catholic sponsor and then only as a witness of the baptism.
Click to expand...
ohh great. my brother was kindve a not so strong catholic. aw well i have already been confirmed 🤷
 
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