My husband is awaiting annulment, Can either of us or both still be Godparents?

[jlmr1975]

My huband and I are both active Catholics. As much as we wanted a Catholic marriage, we were married outside the Church three years ago, because my husband was previously married and is awaiting an annulment decision. In the meantime my only brother and his wife, after trying to concieve for a few years who are now 38 years old are having a baby this week and want us to be the Godparents. Is this even possible given the fact that my husband was previously married? We are devastated.

 

[TheLittleLady]

In order to serve as baptismal sponsors, Catholics must be able to receive the Sacraments. This is something to discuss with your pastor, he has to write your “letter of good standing”.

 

[jlmr1975]

Thank you for replying. I will make an appointment to speak with him. Fingers crossed.

 

[tseleehw]

It depends on the diocese. I can say that in my diocese, the answer would be no, because your current marriage is not valid in the Church (for now at least) and that is a requirement in my diocese for a prospective godparent that is married. Of course, if you could find a priest that would sign the pledge for you anyway, you could conceivably still become the godparents.

This is generally the way things are supposed to be done across the board, though some dioceses are looser with the requirements than others. The relevant section of canon law is (http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P2Y.HTM):

Can. 872 Insofar as possible, a person to be baptized is to be given a sponsor who assists an adult in Christian initiation or together with the parents presents an infant for baptism. A sponsor also helps the baptized person to lead a Christian life in keeping with baptism and to fulfill faithfully the obligations inherent in it.

Can. 873 There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each.

Can. 874 §1. To be permitted to take on the function of sponsor a person must:

1/ be designated by the one to be baptized, by the parents or the person who takes their place, or in their absence by the pastor or minister and have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling this function;

2/ have completed the sixteenth year of age, unless the diocesan bishop has established another age, or the pastor or minister has granted an exception for a just cause;

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;

4/ not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared;

5/ not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized.

§2. A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community is not to participate except together with a Catholic sponsor and then only as a witness of the baptism.

I think most dioceses will probably say no to someone who is in an invalid marriage, but as I said before, there might be some places that view the canon law regarding godparents more like “canon suggestions” rather than canon law. So you can ask anyways and see what happens.

 

[jlmr1975]

Thank you for that detailed reply! Very kind of you.

 

[Tulitas]

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