Confirmation sponsor

[vonjen]

I was informed today that the sponsor for my son’s confirmation is not allowed. She is my sister in law and my sons godmother. ** I was told the only reason she couldn’t is because she was married outside the Catholic church**. Any suggestions to why this is and how to solve the problem? I could find this exception listed in any Cannon Law (874 etc.).

Thanks and Peace be with you.

 

[1ke]

I was informed today that the sponsor for my son’s confirmation is not allowed. She is my sister in law and my sons godmother. ** I was told the only reason she couldn’t is because she was married outside the Catholic church**. Any suggestions to why this is and how to solve the problem? I could find this exception listed in any Cannon Law (874 etc.).

Thanks and Peace be with you.

Canon 874 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;

A person who has chosen to marry outside the Church does not meet this criteria. They are in an invalid marriage, committing a grave sin against the Sixth Commandment. They have separated themselves from the sacraments by their action.

Your sister-in-law can solve the problem by convalidating her marriage, going to confession, and resuming the sacramental life. However, she may be uanble to do so before your son’s confirmation depending upon when it is scheduled to occur. Therefore, I suggest your son choose another sponsor.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

In effect, your sister-in-law has excommunicated herself by marrying outside the Church; as such, she is not a practicing Catholic, a requirement for a confirmation sponsor. (Hopefully others can point you to documentation; I’m not good at locating that online.)

 

[1ke]

In effect, your sister-in-law has excommunicated herself by marrying outside the Church;

An invalid marriage does not have a penalty of automatic excommunication attached to it. She is not excommunicated.

 

[YADA]

I was informed today that the sponsor for my son’s confirmation is not allowed. She is my sister in law and my sons godmother. I was told the only reason she couldn’t is because she was married outside the Catholic church. Any suggestions to why this is and how to solve the problem? I could find this exception listed in any Cannon Law (874 etc.).

Thanks and Peace be with you.

You can read the Canon Law and the suggestion to rectify the situation - if yoru SIL desires to be reconciled to the Church …My question would be why you [or your son] would want a Sponsor who openly does not follow the teachings of the Church. I am a temptation away from sin and regularly in need confesion - as are many … so I am not referring to a need for impeccability and/or perfection …

No - what I mean is a person who is doing their best to live a life in Christ, a person who takes their faith in Christ and life in the Church Christ established as a serious undertaking. A person whose heart is directed to Christ …

However, a person who purposefully married outside the Church and has not rectified the situation is a person who is:

1. Ignorant of what the Church teaches and thus chooses something contrary to the Church Christ provided to guide and teach the Christian. This would not be a person one should look to guide a young person in their faith …
2. Is a person who is in open and direct opposition to the Church. Again, this is one I would not choose to guide a young person.

We don’t [or should not] select sponsors and God parents based upon family relationships, or friendships but upon they person’s faith life and willingness to accept a sacred trust to help the individual grow in a faith of life.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

An invalid marriage does not have a penalty of automatic excommunication attached to it. She is not excommunicated.

I stand corrected. Nonetheless, she cannot receive communion, and therefore is not eligible to be a sponsor.

 

[TheMc]

I was informed today that the sponsor for my son’s confirmation is not allowed. She is my sister in law and my sons godmother. ** I was told the only reason she couldn’t is because she was married outside the Catholic church**. Any suggestions to why this is and how to solve the problem? I could find this exception listed in any Cannon Law (874 etc.).

Thanks and Peace be with you.

The point of a sponsor is someone to guide the confirmandi and give a good example. Someone living openly against the church in an invalid marriage and in the state of sin simply can’t do that.