The Godfather?: Can Christian Witnesses become Godparents?

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I would not worry about it. As someone else has said even if the OP is only officially a non-Catholic Christian witness he’ll be a godfather in anyway that really matters. The benefit as well, which was not mentioned, that he is becoming a Catholic. Godparents (sponsors) are chosen for a whole host of reasons and many of those do not fit with the Church’s teaching. You choose your sister because your mother will be upset; you choose cousin so-and-so because Aunt Lavinia will never speak to you again if you don’t.

I’m not sure who my godparents are and I’ve never encountered a situation where anyone’s godparents have made a meaningful contribution to a child’s faith or life. I know a relative who gets upset because a godparent they chose for a child never sends birthday and Christmas gifts - that’s not what a godparent is for but they’re all too often chosen for that reason.
 
LilyM said:
Well, if the childs baptism is delayed so may the OP’s,
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The OP is already a baptised Christian. He is being confirmed to become a Catholic. As I did say the baptism may be delayed and he could be confirmed by the time it happens. I did also say his confirmation could be delayed too so the situation will not have effectively changed.
 
You make a host of points that make sense. And I have to confess, I overstated my potential dread.
Like you I cannot recall my godparents either. I have it narrowed down, but cannot recall which pair was my brothers and which was mine. The status never came up in life after Baptism that I can recall.
I think what is striking is the incredible number of rules and therefore potential sins. You can address them one by one, and there is always a thought out reason for it. This is not the concern.
I am the concern. Sometimes I imagine the impossibly of not sinning. It is an awkward subject matter. Paul, in Romans, laments this " impossibility." ( In the first person). It is a reality of our faith that is a silent source of tension. It’s like," yup, sure is like that," but then nothing furthur.
 
That’s a great point. Hopefully the tradition of choosing Godparents that help the child grow in sanctity will be recovered.
 
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There is also the possibility that Father may accelerate the time for our OP to enter the Church. We are best to not state things as law when there are viable alternatives 🙂
 
That is also a possibility that has been mentioned by my priest. Though I desire to commemorate my love for the blessed Apostles by being confirmed on their feast day, today’s chaos is undoubtedly better faced within the arms of Mother Church and with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
 
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We had a talk like this in the office today.

As an adult convert, I would have far rather been received privately than to wait for some unknown distant day.
 
TomH1 said:
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LilyM:
Well, if the childs baptism is delayed so may the OP’s,
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The OP is already a baptised Christian. He is being confirmed to become a Catholic. As I did say the baptism may be delayed and he could be confirmed by the time it happens. I did also say his confirmation could be delayed too so the situation will not have effectively changed.
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Sorry for the confusion. Of course you are.correct.
 
I would be most obliged if you read what I wrote rather than assuming I said something different. 😃

I have most definitely not stated anything is the law. With the CORVID-19 Pandemic and there being no liturgical celebrations everything is very uncertain at the moment.

We must remember the OP’s original question: Can he be a sponsor (commonly called a godparent) at a Catholic baptism prior to him entering the Catholic Church or can he only be a non-Catholic Christian witness of the baptism. The correct answer is the latter. You must be, inter alia, a Catholic to be a sponsor.
 
TomH1 said:
It has not changed. Terms godparent, godfather and godmother are colloquial terms used in English. The Church has always used the official term ‘sponsor’.
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Liturgically, at least, “Godparent” is used in the context of baptism; sponsor is used in the context of confirmation.

Where lockdowns are not in place, pre-planned baptisms will probably go ahead, albeit in the context of a small gathering. If the present situation continues (i.e. restrictions on large gatherings / suspension of masses), dioceses will have to consider what needs to be done about baptisms, with infants obviously being a priority. These can be done in private homes with the permission of the local bishop. Confirmations, on the other hand, wil have to wait… ☹️
 
Cecilia_Dympna said:
I would have thought the elderly are at much greater risk.
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Perhaps, but then it is worth to note that they can become catechumens, and if they die before their baptism then there is indeed a baptism of desire. Babies can not be catechumens.
 
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Indeed, in the case of CORVID-19, that is quite true. The evidence to date suggests infected children show no symptoms or have a mild form of the disease.
 
InThePew said:
Liturgically, at least, “Godparent” is used in the context of baptism; sponsor is used in the context of confirmation.
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I am certain, in fact, certain enough not go and check, that the Code of Canon Law refers to such people as sponsors. At least that is the term the English translations I possess use. I do not know Latin so cannot read the original.

To the best of my recollection my considerable library does not contain a copy of the Rite of Baptism; therefore, I am unable to look up what term is used therein.
 
TomH1 said:
I am certain, in fact, certain enough not go and check, that the Code of Canon Law refers to such people as sponsors. At least that is the term the English translations I possess use. I do not know Latin so cannot read the original.
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That it does, however the Rite of Christian Initiation uses the terms “godparents” 🤷‍♂️.
Cecilia_Dympna said:
I would have thought the elderly are at much greater risk.
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They are, but there are far fewer of them seeking baptism. Of course, anyone in danger of death can be baptised pretty quickly. Non-urgent baptisms will however still need to be done at some point, even if it’s in small gatherings with only the parents and godparents present.
 
Baptisms (and marriages) are now forbidden here in the UK with police having the powers to enforce this. I do not know if that would include life or death situations. I pray that at this time Catholics know how to administer emergency baptism.
 
TomH1 said:
Baptisms (and marriages) are now forbidden here in the UK with police having the powers to enforce this. I do not know if that would include life or death situations. I pray that at this time Catholics know how to administer emergency baptism.
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The expectation is that the authorities would be understanding in the case of life or death matters. That said, barring extreme developments (basically the breakdown of basic health care) it’s highly unlikely that (lay) emergency baptism would be required. Hospitals are still functioning for non-virus patients - women are still giving birth and paediatric hospitals/units would presumably be largely unaffected (albeit no doubt shorter staffed); hospital chaplains are also still working and so could and would administer any emergency baptisms that might be required.
 
InThePew said:
The expectation is that the authorities would be understanding in the case of life or death matters. That said, barring extreme developments (basically the breakdown of basic health care) it’s highly unlikely that (lay) emergency baptism would be required. Hospitals are still functioning for non-virus patients - women are still giving birth and paediatric hospitals/units would presumably be largely unaffected (albeit no doubt shorter staffed); hospital chaplains are also still working and so could and would administer any emergency baptisms that might be required.
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To be honest I hadn’t had the healthcare institution in my mind. Thank you for pointing it out. I’ve only been stuck at home for a week and my brain is turning to mush. 🤯 What was in my mind as I typed was the neonate at home who may unexpectedly turn suddenly critically ill.

Am I correct in believing as laymen we should now how to do an emergency baptism? These are troubling times. 😷
 
TomH1 said:
Am I correct in believing as laymen we should now how to do an emergency baptism? These are troubling times.
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I’d say no. Health services in the UK haven’t completely collapsed (afik), if you phone for an ambulance one will still come. Emergency baptisms are intended for just that - emergencies, when time is truly of the essence and it’s unlikely that a priest will be able to make it in time. At the risk of sounding insensitive, there are some who would take it upon themselves to baptise children (their own or, worse, others’) in circumstances falling far short of an emergency. While there’s obviously no harm which can come to the child (spiritually or otherwise) from this, it does create a whole host of canonical headaches later on which is why it’s best avoided. Keep calm and call a priest!
 
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