Question Regarding Sponsorship

[Zeldarocks]

I was taking to a good Catholic friend of mine (who has been slowly but surely bringing me into an intellectual acceptance of the Catholic Church and Doctrine) and I inquired of him regarding the age requirement of the RCIA Sponsor, which he told me was 18 years of age; I then proceeded to check up on that figure online, which I found to be 16 years --said figure was consistent across the board. I’m now wondering, what Is the actual age requirement to be an RCIA Sponsor?

 

[Chatter163]

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.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

As Chatter163 noted the minimum is 16 years, but some parishes might use a higher age. Because of the abuse problems we cannot have anyone under 16 in an adult class in our diocese. There are separate classes for children and teenagers, where a 16-18 year old sponsor might be allowed. The DRE runs these and I don’t know what her policy is.

I have found it a bit awkward to have an 18-20 year old in the adult class. They feel inhibited about getting into a discussion with the older catechumens, and their interests are somewhat different.

 

[puzzleannie]

The bishop can set a higher age, and will if the usual age for confirmation in that diocese is 17 or 18.