Godparent has resigned from Catholic Church

[TimHoran]

My daughter’s godmother has resigned from the catholic church and has decided to no longer support or promote the religion. As such, she has told us that she can no longer be any sort or religious mentor to our daughter and that we should be aware that that area of her responsibility in that role cannot be performed in good conscience by her.

I guess my question is in two parts, do i have to mention this to our priest (she is in a different parish) and is there some sort of procedure for assigning another godparent or is it an informal process.

many thanks

 

[Joannm]

You cannot assign another godparent because it is an historical fact the this woman was the godparent. You can choose a different sponsor for her confirmation.

It is not necessary to notify the priest as they can’t do anything about it except perhaps offer some spiritula guidance.

 

[Joannm]

You cannot assign another godparent because it is an historical fact the this woman was the godparent. You can choose a different sponsor for her confirmation.

It is not necessary to notify the priest as they can’t do anything about it except perhaps offer some spiritual guidance.

 

[TimHoran]

Im not trying to change the baptismal certificate or alter a historical record. I dont think you understand the question but thank you for your response.

 

[MisterCorduroy]

Had a similar experience with my oldest son.

What we told his godparents, who left to become Baptist, was that even though they have left the Church we hope that they continue to pray that he’ll always follow Jesus and develop a deeper relationship with Him. They will always be his godparents regardless of their relationship to the Church and are sad to see them reject the Faith. As our son grew up we encouraged him to pray for his godparents that they will return to the Church.

If you recall, at a Baptism the parents and everyone present promises to bring up the child in the Faith. So, even though the person who specifically pledged to pray for and teach her about Jesus has decided not to fulfill her promise, there should be other people available. As for calling them “godmother”, I don’t think this is necessary or appropriate.

You never know if the godmother will return to the Church some day.

 

[Operalan]

Resigned from the Church? Which document did she sign? What steps did she take? or is this just another way of saying she left the Church?

 

[Watchman]

Here’s another version of the same answer.

 

[Corki]

My daughter’s godmother has resigned from the catholic church and has decided to no longer support or promote the religion. As such, she has told us that she can no longer be any sort or religious mentor to our daughter and that we should be aware that that area of her responsibility in that role cannot be performed in good conscience by her.

I guess my question is in two parts, do i have to mention this to our priest (she is in a different parish) and is there some sort of procedure for assigning another godparent or is it an informal process.

many thanks

1. She can say whatever she wants but it doesn’t change the facts. This woman IS a Catholic and she IS your daughter’s godparent. Her responsibilities don’t change either - she just plans to shirk them.
2. A godparent that is not practicing the faith is a sad but not unheard of occurance. If you daughter also has a godfather, let him know and he may be happy to step up his involvement. You can also encourage your daughter, as Joanne said, to pick a sponsor for Confirmation that will be more involved.
3. The selection of godparents is a one-time event. This happens at the time of the Baptism. It doesn’t matter if the person dies, leaves the practice of the faith or moves to some remote corner of the world. That person is still the godparent. There are no substitutions later on.
4. Presumably, the godmother’s own pastor knows she is not longer living out her faith. There is no reason for you to tell anyone else, including your own priest.

 

[1ke]

My daughter’s godmother has resigned from the catholic church and has decided to no longer support or promote the religion. As such, she has told us that she can no longer be any sort or religious mentor to our daughter and that we should be aware that that area of her responsibility in that role cannot be performed in good conscience by her.

I guess my question is in two parts, do i have to mention this to our priest (she is in a different parish) and is there some sort of procedure for assigning another godparent or is it an informal process.

many thanks

A godparent is actually the sposor at the time of baptism. This is a historical fact in the baptismal records.

No you do not need to notify anyone, and no there is no new godparent assigned.

At the time of confirmation, your child will select a sponsor for that sacrament. In the meantime you of course are a role model and if you have a close friend or relative that can be there on special occasions and be a religious role model then by all means ask them to help you.

 

[ProVobis]

My daughter’s godmother has resigned from the catholic church and has decided to no longer support or promote the religion.

Did she quit Christianity too?

 

[ConstantineTG]

I am in the same boat. My son’s godfather quit the Catholic Church. Canonically and officially, they cannot be replaced. But that won’t stop me from finding good Christian role models for him.

 

[thistle]

My daughter’s godmother has resigned from the catholic church and has decided to no longer support or promote the religion. As such, she has told us that she can no longer be any sort or religious mentor to our daughter and that we should be aware that that area of her responsibility in that role cannot be performed in good conscience by her.

I guess my question is in two parts, do i have to mention this to our priest (she is in a different parish) and is there some sort of procedure for assigning another godparent or is it an informal process.

many thanks

She cannot “resign”. Once a Catholic always a Catholic. There are only two types of Catholic. Those in a state of mortal sin and those in a state of grace. There is no such thing as an ex-Catholic or former Catholic. She is a Catholic for life whether she likes it or not.

As for your godparent question as others said you don’t have to do anything. Sponsors cannot be changed.

 

[odile53]

Probably from your daughter’s standpoint, her godmother’s defection from the Catholic Church isn’t going to matter all that much. Since you’ve posted this in the Traditional Catholicism forum, there are doubtless many other women who can serve as role models and mentors to her.

Many children experience the loss of godparents in other ways: My own godmother died when I was eleven years old. My mother, on the other hand, though slowed down a little by diabetes and arthritis, remains hale and hearty and sharp as a tack (and just as tough as) at the age of 89. So she was always around to make sure I was being brought up as a Catholic, such as she was, which was primarily cultural. The Sisters at school, especially in the late grades and in my high school. were the ones who really ensured my development as a Catholic. I could tell you a story about how three of the Sisters in my high school took a great interest in me and even helped me further my career, but that is all beside the point.

You don’t have to let your parish priest, or the priest from wherever your daughter was baptized, know about this. As others have mentioned, the baptismal certificate is a historical document, only capturing what happened at the time of the baptism, much like a snapshot.

Since the required role of a godparent is to take an interest in the development and education of a godchild in the Faith, and assure the education of a child in the Catholic Church’s teachings if the parents become incapacitated to do so, you might want to cultivate some relationships with other Catholic women to assess their commitment to the Faith. When you find someone whose interaction “gels” with your daughter, and whose commitment to the Catholic Church’s teachings you admire, you might want to privately explain the situation and ask this lady if she would be willing to step into a de facto godparent role.

But there is no “official” documentation required.

BTW–I"m a tremendous fan of Catholic education: I owe who I am today, both temporally and spiritually, a tremendous debt to the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, the Felician Sisters, the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, and the Fathers of the Society of Jesus.

 

[ProVobis]

She cannot “resign”. Once a Catholic always a Catholic. There are only two types of Catholic. Those in a state of mortal sin and those in a state of grace. There is no such thing as an ex-Catholic or former Catholic. She is a Catholic for life whether she likes it or not.

As for your godparent question as others said you don’t have to do anything. Sponsors cannot be changed.

Maybe it’s not an official name but supposedly “ex-Catholics” form the largest denomination in the U.S. (according to my pastor anyway)

 

[Actaeon]

My daughter’s godmother has resigned from the catholic church and has decided to no longer support or promote the religion. As such, she has told us that she can no longer be any sort or religious mentor to our daughter and that we should be aware that that area of her responsibility in that role cannot be performed in good conscience by her.

I guess my question is in two parts, do i have to mention this to our priest (she is in a different parish) and is there some sort of procedure for assigning another godparent or is it an informal process.

many thanks

The answer to your questions are no and no.

As to what you tell the godmother, your answer to her is also no. She stood at the baptism and swore before God that she fulfill her role as godparent. That’s not a vow that can be broken (or taken lightly) even if she intends to shirk it.

She doesn’t have to necessarily do anything against her morals, but checking in with the child from time to time to ensure that they’re at least heading in the right moral direction isn’t really that hard.

At least that’s what I would do: tell her that while you can’t stop her from skipping out on her oath, that you still expect her to fulfill her role according to the value of her word.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

If it’s any consolation to you, neither of my godparents or my confirmation sponsor were actually practicing Catholics, nor is my family, but through the grace of God and the Holy Spirit, I am fervent Catholic.

 

[thistle]

If it’s any consolation to you,** neither of my godparents or my confirmation sponsor were actually practicing Catholics**, nor is my family, but through the grace of God and the Holy Spirit, I am fervent Catholic.

As that is not permitted did they lie to the priest before being allowed to be baptism sponsors?

 

[ConstantineTG]

As that is not permitted did they lie to the priest before being allowed to be baptism sponsors?

Well, all they need are baptismal and confirmation certificates to be godparents. If they were baptized and confirmed and they are no longer practicing, depends on how strict the priest is, they can become godparents by producing those documents.

 

[Corki]

As that is not permitted did they lie to the priest before being allowed to be baptism sponsors?

In my case, I know that my oldest son’s godmother lied to the priest. I had no idea that she was living a life so far from a practicing Catholic.

Fortunately, my son has wonderful Catholic role models, including his Godfather (before he died).

 

[thistle]

Well, all they need are baptismal and confirmation certificates to be godparents. If they were baptized and confirmed and they are no longer practicing, depends on how strict the priest is, they can become godparents by producing those documents.

I guess they either lied to the priest or the priest didn’t do any due diligence. If he knew then he would be disobeying Canon Law.

Can. 874 §1 To be admitted to undertake the office of sponsor, a person must:

1° be appointed by the candidate for baptism, or by the parents or whoever stands in their place, or failing these, by the parish priest or the minister; to be appointed the person must be suitable for this role and have the intention of fulfilling it;

2° be not less than sixteen years of age, unless a different age has been stipulated by the diocesan Bishop, or unless the parish priest or the minister considers that there is a just reason for an exception to be made;

3° be a catholic who has been confirmed and has received the blessed Eucharist, and who lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken;

4° not labour under a canonical penalty, whether imposed or declared;

5° not be either the father or the mother of the person to be baptised.

§2 A baptised person who belongs to a non-catholic ecclesial community may be admitted only in company with a catholic sponsor, and then simply as a witness to the baptism.