Two Godmothers?

[genealogist]

When my youngest was to be baptized I asked the chaceloor of the archdiocese did the Christian witness HAVE to be the other sex of the sponsor. He said no. IF there are Two SPONSORS it must be one of EACH. Since the second SPONSOR is not needed then a Christian Witness can be a second female as was the case we chose.

The Protestant in question asked was it okay for her to be the godmother. I informed her that the Catholic woman would be the sponsor and she would act as a Christian Witness of the baptism. She informed me that she had fulfilled a similar role at a LCMS baptism of her niece as this woman is now a Presbyterian and could not be the sponsor. My understanding is that had she been Catholic previously she would not be acceptable as either the SPONSOR because she was not Catholic or the Christian witness because while she was still Christian she had left the CHURCH. That makes sense to me.

In closing, I would agree with Brother Rich that ideally you would have a male and female. In some families having a Christian Witness that is the same sex as the Catholic Sponsor would be okay since the Christian Witness role is not necessary and it basically a symbolic position only. SPONSORS on the other hand are very different and play a true and important role.

 

[mystified]

I remember a baptism during a Mass that had the requisite godmother and godfather, but because of the closeness of most of the congregation to the child’s mother, the priest named all of us “honorary godparents”. I thought this was very touching and cannot see that a violation or abuse could be identified here.