Marry a Godparent?

[PepeRoni]

Hey all:

Can’t seem to find if this has been asked (I tried, so sorry if repeated), but is it still not permitted to marry a godchild/godparent or confirmation sponsor?

The Council of Trent issued a document on the matter stating it was a “Spiritual Relationship” and banning it as such. But I can’t seem to find anything about it anywhere from a decent source.

Thanks all!

J

 

[blackrobe]

Spiritual Relationship [godparent] was an impediment in the 1917 code but it was abrogated by the 1983 code. Note, however, that the CIC applies only to the Latin Church; the Eastern code still sees it as an impediment. I believe it may be dispensable.

JSA

 

[PepeRoni]

was it abrogated because the 83 code didn’t mention it, because I didn’t see anything in the code saying it is no longer an impediment (or is that not necessary)

 

[blackrobe]

See canon 6. CIC17 is abrogated; that means nothing from CIC17 remains unless specifically excepted. The fact that Spiritual Relationship is not mentioned in CIC83 means that it is not an impediment.

A lot of people who are attached to certain provisions of CIC17 want to get this backward. They insist that anything not specifically abrogated by CIC83 must still be in force. On the contrary, canon 6 abrogates CIC17 in its entirety. The slate is wiped clean for CIC83.

JSA

 

[Woodstock]

Note, however, that the CIC applies only to the Latin Church; the Eastern code still sees it as an impediment. I believe it may be dispensable.

Canon 811 of the Eastern Canons

1. From baptism there arises a spiritual relationship between a sponsor and the baptized person and the parents of the same that invalidates marriage. 2. If a baptism is repeated under condition, a spiritual relationship does not arise, unless the same sponsor was employed for the second ceremony.

The traditional western practice was that the spiritual relationship contracted between a confirmand and his sponsor was not an impediment to marriage like the spiritual relationship established in Baptism. In the east, Baptism and Confirmation (Chrismation) are administered at the same time with the same sponsor, so that is a moot point.