What if an Episcopalian asks me to be a godparent?

[Bperry]

My friends are Episcopalians, and they’ve asked me to be the godfather to their son. I am a practicing Catholic. Should I accept their invitation? It certainly seems like a wonderful opportunity to share the Catholic Church’s teachings if the parents are amenable to having me take on the role as a Catholic. If they are simply asking me because it’s a gesture of friendship, how should I respond?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

It does not matter what the parents’ reasons are. Practicing Catholics cannot be godparents to Protestant children, precisely because they cannot be involved in teaching a godchild Protestantism. It would be disrespectful to use your position as godparent to undermine the parents’ religious beliefs with their child by teaching the child Catholicism without their consent.

All you can do in this case is to politely decline. You might say, “Thank you for the honor of asking me to be godfather. I’m so sorry, but I cannot accept because I’m a Catholic. But I would be happy to attend the baptism and to celebrate it with you.”