Godparent question

[Advocatus_Fidei]

i don’t believe so. he may not be able to provide the guidance himself, but if he can keep the kid in the straight path in the Catholic faith (reminding him to go to confession, go to Catechism class, etc.) then he’s fulfilling that obligation to his sister.

truth be told, there are protestants who knows far more about the faith than some Catholics. i wouldn’t discount this man as ignorant of the faith, he’s married to a Catholic and his sister is a Catholic as well.

He does not possess the Faith, you cannot give what you do not have, his mere disbelief prevents him from inspiring faith in the child, he can teach the child the whole catechism and still the child will not have receive the faith from him. The Faith is more than learning the truths.

The child would say “why do I have to do it if you don’t” and the whole thing would be over.

 

[ac_claire]

i don’t know too. i guess i thought you were asking a question. thats what happens if you are switching between CAF and work

yes, a witness officially has no responsibility to your child (can i say canonically?) as a godparent

but doesn’t mean in actual life that he can’t have that responsibility. especially being your brother

No, I was definitely asking a question! I was asking if I could have two Godmothers for my daughter, then in response to your post about my brother I was asking if it was really true that my brother (as a non-Catholic…as a non Christian, period, actually) could be a Godparent.

He can’t be an official Godparent, but he’ll definitely be there as a witness.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

What we have occuring in the above posts is the difference between the canonical definition of a Godparent and our common social definition.
Canonically the Church only recognizes confirmed Catholics as Godparents. And even then, only one male or one female or one of each.
A Protestant can canonically be an official witness alongside a Catholic Godparent but not on their own.

HOWEVER, socially people name all sorts of individuals Godparents to their child. These are individuals the parents tend to want their children to emulate in some way shape or form. Socially its rarely said, “Uncle Bob is my Godfather and his wife, my Aunt Sue, is my Christian Witness to my baptism.” No, socially we tend say, “Uncle Bob and Aunt Sue are my Godparents.”
The Church really doesn’t particularly care what kinds of social connotations people are using and in many parts of the world the parishes and diocese simply ignore canon law on the matter.

When confusion arises I usually recommend people appoint just one person to sign the certificate and then privately name whomever they want as Godparents.

 

[Kat127]

The signing is to say they witnessed the baptism, just like people sign to say they witnessed a wedding, doesn’t mean they are automatically a Godparent, if canon law says there cant be two Godfathers then no one has two Godfathers no matter what went on at the baptism.

If you want two men to fill the role of Godfather to your child that’s between you and them but officially there is only one Godfather just like a person can only have one natural father.

Well on my certificate both signatures are above a line that says “godparent” so if you go off the piece of paper that has been registered by the Church it appears I have two godfathers.

It really isn’t a big deal. I’m sure the official response would be it was a clerical error and one is the godfather and the other is the witness. I guess I’ll have to inform my brothers of this next time the family gathers and let them duke it out which one is which.

I just think it is really fascinating I never knew this before. I am glad someone mentioned the canon law before I posted because I was about to say “Oh I have two godfathers so of course you and have two godmothers.” Guess it just goes to show the proper answer is “Ask your priest.”

You learn something new everyday…

 

[choy]

He does not possess the Faith, you cannot give what you do not have, his mere disbelief prevents him from inspiring faith in the child, he can teach the child the whole catechism and still the child will not have receive the faith from him. The Faith is more than learning the truths.

The child would say “why do I have to do it if you don’t” and the whole thing would be over.

like i said, there are many Catholics who themselves are poorly Catechized. they also do not have much to give. being an uncle, he has a greater responsibility to the child, being blood relative and all. would he personally and directly teach the child Catholic beliefs? probably not. but if he’s true to his promise and the situation calls for it, he’ll make sure the child receives a Catholic education or instruction from another source

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

Well on my certificate both signatures are above a line that says “godparent” so if you go off the piece of paper that has been registered by the Church it appears I have two godfathers.

Most baptismal certificates don’t have line items for “Witness”, usually there’s just two lines for Godparents.
It really doesn’t matter all that much.

 

[Advocatus_Fidei]

like i said, there are many Catholics who themselves are poorly Catechized. they also do not have much to give. being an uncle, he has a greater responsibility to the child, being blood relative and all. would he personally and directly teach the child Catholic beliefs? probably not. but if he’s true to his promise and the situation calls for it, he’ll make sure the child receives a Catholic education or instruction from another source

That the PRACTICE and LIVE the faith is far more important than them knowing the catechism back to front. A non catholic fails when it comes to practiing and living the faith because they do not have the faith and so cannot pass it on. He cannot be the Catholic role model to the child which is the essential part of a Godfather. A Godfather has to do more than send the kid to the right school.

 

[choy]

That the PRACTICE and LIVE the faith is far more important than them knowing the catechism back to front. A non catholic fails when it comes to practiing and living the faith because they do not have the faith and so cannot pass it on. He cannot be the Catholic role model to the child which is the essential part of a Godfather. A Godfather has to do more than send the kid to the right school.

there are many Catholics who grew up in a non-Catholic home. if they can do that, i can’t see why the situation we’re debating about cannot prosper. and i would think this situation has a better chance of success because albeit the uncle is not Catholic, he is encouraging the child to be Catholic. as opposed to those non-Catholic families where the parents sometimes are against the children becoming Catholic or joining another faith

 

[Advocatus_Fidei]

there are many Catholics who grew up in a non-Catholic home. if they can do that, i can’t see why the situation we’re debating about cannot prosper. and i would think this situation has a better chance of success because albeit the uncle is not Catholic, he is encouraging the child to be Catholic. as opposed to those non-Catholic families where the parents sometimes are against the children becoming Catholic or joining another faith

The child will see such a Godparents encouragement to practice what they themselves don’t as fake and hypocritical it has a no better chance of success and in fact may even have a worse one in my opinion.

 

[choy]

The child will see such a Godparents encouragement to practice what they themselves don’t as fake and hypocritical it has a no better chance of success and in fact may even have a worse one in my opinion.

don’t forget that the wife of said uncle is Catholic

well, we have differing opinions on the matter, lets leave it at that