Can I marry my godmothers daughter

  • Thread starter Thread starter Randeev
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
R

Randeev

Guest
Can I marry my godmother’s daughter? I’m currently not in a relationship with her so is it possible to marry her?
 
Randeev said:
I’m currently not in a relationship with her
Click to expand...
That will probably make marrying her a little difficult, but there’s nothing in church teaching or law that would prohibit you from marrying your godmother’s daughter, assuming you’re not otherwise impeded. If you’re too closely related, or if she’s not free to marry, then you can’t.

-Fr ACEGC
 
Its nice to hear a man thinking about marriage though. Good luck in building a relationship with her.

God Bless.
 
edward_george1 said:
40.png
Randeev:
I’m currently not in a relationship with her
Click to expand...
That will probably make marrying her a little difficult
Click to expand...
😂 Very funny, Padre!
 
Thanks! I think my wording was bad. We are very close but I was afraid to start a serious relationship because I had heard that one can’t marry his godparents children
 
Well I guess that would depend on whether the godparent and daughter are related to you by blood or not.
 
Carry on then! 😉

If there are no other impediments, of course.
 
Last edited:
From the Cathechism of Trent:

“The Church, therefore, in her wisdom has ordained that not only the person who baptises contracts a spiritual affinity with the person baptised, but also the sponsor with the godchild and its natural parents, so that between all these marriage cannot be lawfully contracted, and if contracted, it is null and void.”

This is probably the source of what you’ve heard. It doesn’t seem to mention the children of the sponsors, though, but maybe you could contact a canon lawyer first, just to be sure?
 
”Spiritual affinity” is no longer an impediment in the latin church. You could even marry your godmother.
 
edward_george1 said:
That will probably make marrying her a little difficult, but there’s nothing in church teaching or law that would prohibit you from marrying your godmother’s daughter, assuming you’re not otherwise impeded. If you’re too closely related, or if she’s not free to marry, then you can’t.
Click to expand...
I know that at least one Saint used godparent status to escape marrying someone they didn’t want to - Saint Olga of Kiev didn’t want to marry Emperor Constantine VII and tricked him by asking him to be her baptismal sponsor. After her reception in the Church, he couldn’t court her anymore. (reference)

Is this not practiced anymore in the West?
tuffsmurf said:
”Spiritual affinity” is no longer an impediment in the latin church. You could even marry your godmother.
Click to expand...
Oh my heavens. In the East that would be like incest. Totally unallowed.
 
Last edited:
Marrying one’s godmother would not likely be advisable even if spiritual affinity is no longer the written letter of the law…
 
ReaderT said:
I know that at least one Saint used godparent status to escape marrying someone they didn’t want to
Click to expand...
That’s not really relevant to the question. The OP asked if he could marry the daughter of his godmother.
ReaderT said:
Is this not practiced anymore in the West?
Click to expand...
It is not currently an impediment in Latin Canon Law, but it remains an impediment in the Eastern Churches.
 
Apart from her being your godmother’s daughter is there any other blood relationships we should be made aware of before pronouncing judgement? 😉

Peace!
 
edward_george1 said:
That’s not really relevant to the question. The OP asked if he could marry the daughter of his godmother.
Click to expand...
I apologize, I should’ve clarified. We (Easterners) believe the OP’s part of the Godmother’s family in a spiritual way, so it doesn’t matter if he’s marrying the mother or the daughter; both are forbidden. Olga noted that Constantine called her his “daughter” in baptism and so she couldn’t marry any member of his family.

But you clarified that this isn’t in Western practice anymore, so issue resolved 😎
 
Last edited:
What about with a dispensation from the bishop? Is that heard of? Out of economy…

For example, biological first cousins cannot licitly marry, but in some parts of the world the bishop may find it prudent to make exceptions. Or is spiritual affinity just a complete untouchable taboo?
 
Last edited:
Tradition? It would also be a bit odd because your godmother will be likely at least a couple decades older…and promised to guide and raise you as a spiritual mentor. It’s a different role from that of a wife…
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top