Can Witness & Sponsor be same gender?

[abgaz1]

In the case of only having one Godparent and one Christian Witness, the question is about the sex of the Witness. Does Can. 873 “There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each.” apply as well. Specifically, must the Witness be of the opposite sex of the Godparent?

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

While I can’t find anything that definitively states that the Christian witness and Godparent/Sponsor must be male and female it is the common custom and I have never heard of the opposite being allowed.

I would say that, even though the canons do not explicitly address this matter, because the custom of never having a Christian Witness and Godparent of the same gender is virtually universal and without exception that it should be understood as a proper understanding of the law (canons 26 & 27).

Can. 26 …[a custom] beyond a canonical law obtains the force of law only if it has been legitimately observed for thirty continuous and complete years…

Can. 27 Custom is the best interpreter of laws.