A
amysings4u
Guest
I have a dilemma which unfortunately I must solve by tomorrow. 2 years ago, I reluctantly told my sister that as I understood the teaching of the faith, I could not be godmother to my nephew T because he was not going to be baptized or raised in the catholic church. My sister was married in a catholic church in France, but neither she nor her husband practices.
They did, however, have T baptized in an Episcopalian church which they do not currently attend (they stuck with it for a short time). When I visit, I am often permitted to bring T with me to the Catholic church in GA, and I expect that as he grows older that opportunity may increase, esp. once he is able to visit me on his own. Tristan and I have an extremely close bond even though I am not his godmother de facto.
Now, T’s baby brother, N, is 4 months old, and my sister asked me again if I felt I needed to hold the same position about being a godmother, and I said yes. Today she has informed me that N is going to be baptized when they go to France next month, and because of that he will be baptized in a Catholic church, however I still know that, while they shouldn’t have any objection to my encouraging a Catholic upbringing when I’m around, they will not be raising N or T as Catholics.
My sister is going to send me the materials she has regarding the godparent’s role, and the church in France will of course accept me as godmother.
I would love to have this position in my nephew’s life, and I believe that being godmother could give me the opportunity to be a particular type of witness to my sister that I don’t currently have, plus it is significant to me that she has returned to ask even though I’ve already told her I had to decline. Mightn’t I be the channel through which my nephews learn the faith?
Can you provide some cannon law or maybe catechism reference that helps clarify this further?
They did, however, have T baptized in an Episcopalian church which they do not currently attend (they stuck with it for a short time). When I visit, I am often permitted to bring T with me to the Catholic church in GA, and I expect that as he grows older that opportunity may increase, esp. once he is able to visit me on his own. Tristan and I have an extremely close bond even though I am not his godmother de facto.
Now, T’s baby brother, N, is 4 months old, and my sister asked me again if I felt I needed to hold the same position about being a godmother, and I said yes. Today she has informed me that N is going to be baptized when they go to France next month, and because of that he will be baptized in a Catholic church, however I still know that, while they shouldn’t have any objection to my encouraging a Catholic upbringing when I’m around, they will not be raising N or T as Catholics.
My sister is going to send me the materials she has regarding the godparent’s role, and the church in France will of course accept me as godmother.
I would love to have this position in my nephew’s life, and I believe that being godmother could give me the opportunity to be a particular type of witness to my sister that I don’t currently have, plus it is significant to me that she has returned to ask even though I’ve already told her I had to decline. Mightn’t I be the channel through which my nephews learn the faith?
Can you provide some cannon law or maybe catechism reference that helps clarify this further?