Siblings as Godparents?

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leonie

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My 13 year old and 15 year old will be confirmed next month. We are considering asking them to be Godparents for their new sibling due late this winter (March 7).

good idea? bad idea?
 
I believe the Church requires Godparents to be at least 18 years of age, but you should double check that in case I’m wrong.

Even if those under 18 are allowed to be Godparents, I would suggest finding adults who are strong in the faith instead of having your other children fill these roles.

Congratulations on the upcoming sacraments and God bless! 🙂
 
leonie said:
My 13 year old and 15 year old will be confirmed next month. We are considering asking them to be Godparents for their new sibling due late this winter (March 7).

good idea? bad idea?
Click to expand...
they may if the bishop of your diocese allows, you might ask, even if the published age is older (usually 16 to 18).
 
I’m a godmother for my youngest sibling–was 17 at the baptism. Check with your diocese for their guidelines.

I love(d) being a godmother! 🙂
 
leonie said:
My 13 year old and 15 year old will be confirmed next month. We are considering asking them to be Godparents for their new sibling due late this winter (March 7).

good idea? bad idea?
Click to expand...
Typically the sponsor would have to be 17. See paragraph 2 for a possible option regarding an exception to the age. If they meet the criteria and are truly mature, then I don’t see a problem with it at all.

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;
 
I think sibling godparents are a great idea! I wanted to do the same for my 2 ds’ (baby and teenager) but my teenager was too young. 😦 I could have asked for him to be a Christian witness as long as I had a confirmed, practicing, age appropriate person for the other god parent.

In the end we went with two god parents instead of asking my ds to be the christian witness. I thought I’d let my ds be a godparent when he could truely stand up and say he was the godparent instead of the wishy washy term of Christian witness. I know he would have made a great godparent, but I’ll wait for the next baby to ask him to be godparent.🙂
 
My parish discourages having close relatives as godparents. A sibling or aunt/uncle will be part of the child’s life no matter what. This is a chance to add another loving adult into the child’s circle and as a Catholic role model.
 
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