From the very beginning the Bishop was the one who administered Baptism and Confirmation. When it became impossible to be there for all baptisms the Bishop appointed priests to do them but retained the perogative of confirming those who had been baptized.
No. I’ve attended several baptisms in the Anglican Church, and like in the Catholic Church they are done by the Priest or the Deacon.
Okay; thanks for the clarification. I’ve never really been an Anglican!
Anglican baptisms are pretty much the same as Catholic ones. There are a few differences, such as the number of allowed godparents (2 for us, 3 for Anglicans with 2 of the same gender as the child).
I see. I wonder if there is a special, unwritten rule for royalty that lets them as many godparents as they want (or rather, how many their parents or the state want)!
I guess they, like us, can call any number of people godparents, the Church will recognize 2 , or in the Anglican case, 3.
Now I understand! “Godparent” can be purely a position of honor!
Let me put it this way: the Church doesn’t recognize a non-Catholic baptized Christian as a godparent/sponsor but as a Christian witness. I’ve never had a Catholic family understand the distinction, no matter how much we tried to explain. To them, they’ll always be the child’s godparent, regardless of what the Church says. It’s a small step from that to 10 people as godparents regardless of what the Church says.
O-kay. I am grateful that you explained that.
Acts of the Apostles 8:9-17
Its actually more cultural than religious. It is done because in our culture we do not want other people to be offended that they are not the ones chosen. I know I’m very proud to be Filipino (by the way Phemie, thats the way you spell it
) but I acknowledge some nuances in our culture that I myself really hate.
the Bishop can delegate any priest to confirm, but the privilege must be used for the specific candidates for whom it has been given. The point is the Bishop is the ordinary minister and the delegation must come through him. In the Eastern churches this is evidenced in the fact that although the priest confirms (chrismates) he must use the oil blessed by the Bishop. It is the Bishop who confirms the faith of the baptized, an action he does, not one which the candidate does.
Hello, Constantine. Yeah, I see what you are saying!Its actually more cultural than religious. It is done because in our culture we do not want other people to be offended that they are not the ones chosen. I know I’m very proud to be Filipino (by the way Phemie, thats the way you spell it
The other thing I hate, with baptisms and weddings and birthdays, you have to invite everyone you are in constant contact with. Like your coworkers who aren’t really your close personal friends. Especially your boss. Otherwise they take it personally. Ugh!
Many people choose to see it as only an honour, but I would see it (even those “Godparents” not listed on the baptismal certificate) as having a real responsibility to see the child raised as a good Catholic.
That’s true.