Reply. A non-Catholic cannot be a Godparent to a Catholic child. For more information, please see our Faith Facts: Spiritual Parents: The Role of Godparents in the Catholic Church, Eric StoutzInformation SpecialistCatholics United for the Faith827 North Fourth StreetSteubenville, OH 43952800-MY-FAITH (800-693-2484), Invite the Holy Spirit to Bring Fullness to Your Prayer. They can foster the Catholic faith in the child, or at best perhaps encourage them in what is common to our faiths, but they cannot foster them in a non-Catholic faith. Listen to the audio version of this content. In other words, canon law permits the parents of an infant to choose a Catholic and a non-Catholic Christian as “godparents,” and exteriorly they may both appear to assume these roles at the actual baptismal ceremony. Perhaps Godparents offer a fresh perspective on issues that kids face. Keep in mind that certain denominations require you to be a member in order to be a godparent. A non-Catholic may serve as a witness to the baptism, but is not officially the godparent, a role that is reserved to Catholics alone. Can I have two Godmothers?Bishop Coyne walks us through some of the guidelines associated with godparents. But in the parish’s … The Roles and Requirements of a Catholic Godparent and Confirmation Sponsor For many people it is consider an honor and a privilege to be asked to be someone’s godparent or confirmation sponsor. The godparent cannot be the father or mother of the one to be baptized (Canon 874, §1, 5º). Charles Grondin • Download Share. But its very similar. I was told only one godparent has to be catholic. According to the teachings of the Catholic Church, during the Sacrament of Baptism, a child can only have two Godparents (Sponsors), a male and a female. Oh hold up! Check with the priest or whoever is performing the christening. My father is catholic and my mother was presbyterian, which is what I was baptized. Can an unbaptized person be a godparent? A baptized non-Catholic may not be a godparent but can serve as a witness along with a Catholic godparent. But its very similar. They realize the importance of godparents and have asked me about the situation since I am Catholic. He attends a Roman Catholic school. Can Catholics be godparents to children of another Christian demonination? There can be up to two godparents, a male and a female, for a single child. Only a practicing Catholic who meets the qualifications of a confirmed Catholic, age 16 or older, and has received the Sacrament of the Eucharist, may be a godparent or sponsor for baptism. The 1993 Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism (Directory on Ecumenism) explains: It is the Catholic understanding that godparents, in a liturgical and canonical sense, should themselves be members of the Church or ecclesial Community in which the baptism is being celebrated. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. The Catholic Church provides a detailed guideline that must be obeyed. In short, if a person is not Catholic, but is a baptized Christian who belongs to a non-Catholic denomination, he may participate, together with a sponsor (godparent), as a witness of the baptism (Canon Law, Can. Godparents cannot be the parent of the child that is baptized. 872-874; Catechism of the Catholic Church 1255). Technically yes, if the baby is in an emergency situation (such as serious illness or near death), but the secret-baptism-in-grandma’s-kitchen-sink while valid if done in the right way isn’t really condoned. The role of the godparent for baptism is rooted in the role of the sponsor in the catechumenate, which originated in the early Church. The parents should consent to the baptism of their child. I was raised in a split-christian home. cert as godparents and their roll was to all intents and purposes the same. © Copyright 2021 Catholic Exchange. How Families Can Prepare for Spiritual Warfare | Kathleen Beckman, How Can Beauty & Culture Save the World? It is the Catholic understanding that godparents, in a liturgical and canonical sense, should themselves be members of the Church or ecclesial community in which the baptism is being celebrated. Yes. A non-baptized person cannot be a witness (Code of Canon Law, cc. In Everything you Wanted to Know About Catholic Liturgy, Bishop Christopher Coyne of Vermont answers frequently asked questions about the Catholic liturgy.Who can be a Godparent? Question: What are the qualifications for someone to be permitted to be a Godparent? 2. "To be admitted to undertake the office of Sponsor, a person must:" [Canon Law # 874.1] a. The godparent can be male or female, or one of each, who is a practicing catholic who has received Confirmation and who is at least 16 years of age It is expected that a godparent be a firm believer in the teachings of the Catholic Church, and be ready to take on the role of a spiritual guide for the newly baptized. The non-Catholic must be baptized and must be present with a Catholic godparent at the time of baptism (Pastoral companion for Canon Law 57). My husband is catholic. These are the official witnesses that the child was baptized. Only Catholics who have been Confirmed and are in good standing can be the godparent according to Canon Law. This is the teaching of the Catholic Church though, as some of the posts above indicate, there are unfortunately some priests who are willing to ignore the teaching of the Church. The role of godparent is an important one in the Catholic church. Source(s): Catholic deacon. Their task is a truly ecclesial function ( officium ). My dd has 4 godparents - the catholic ones (because there had to be at least one catholic godparent) who are my sister and brother, and the people I regard as her 'true' godparents who are CofE. That's why we're having such a hard time getting her baptized bc my brother will for sure be the god father but we can't find a Catholic god mother we both feel comfortable with. The non-Catholic Christian may be a “Christian witness” to the baptism along with the Catholic godparent as long as they were baptized under the Catholic understanding of a triune God. You can do one Catholic Godparent, and one Christian Witness if you want to choose someone not of the Catholic faith to also promise to help raise your child in God. Read the rest, no a Lutheran can NOT be the one and only Godparent. Members of the Eastern Churches are distinguished from members of ecclesial communities. Like for example I know Catholics can Marry non Catholics and if the Non Catholic spouse wants to get Married in their own religious on Non religious Way. 874 §1. Finally, “a baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community is not to participate except together with a Catholic sponsor and then only as a witness of the baptism” (Canon 874.5.2). Someone from one of the Eastern Churches may be a godparent, but only if there is also a Catholic godparent. Q. ... of mine christened her children in a CofE church and the vicar would only let her have practising CofE church goers as god parents - so it's not just the Catholic church that can be funny about these things. Although the specific naming term of godparent arose through Catholicism, it is not exclusive to … Godparents can be mentors, educators, and spiritual support not only to the sponsored person through Baptism, but also to the entire family and even community. The validly baptized non-Catholic would be a Christian witness. Christianity. A godparent of a Catholic child should be Catholic. Canon Law states that a non-Catholic may stand up at the baptism like a godparent would as a witness to the baptism, but only if the other godparent is a Catholic. Good afternoon, I have a question that I hope someone can assist me with. Can I have two Godmothers?Bishop Coyne walks us through some of the guidelines associated with godparents. 1. 874.2). A godparent must be Catholic. A: There was a general restriction on priests, religious and other consecrated souls acting as godparents that stemmed from the 1917 Code of Canon Law. must be firm believers, able and ready to help the newly baptized-child or adult on the road to Christian life. There are many reasons why it might be necessary to change a child's godparent, such as the chosen godparents moving away or even dying. You can be a "christian witness" to a protestant child with a catholic godparent. In short, if a person is not Catholic, but is a baptized Christian who belongs to a non-Catholic denomination, he may participate, together with a sponsor (godparent), as a witness of the baptism (Canon Law, Can. If one is a practicing Christian of another trinitarian denomination and is baptized, that person can be what is called a Christian Witness ( the other godparent must be a confirmed and practicing catholic in good standing) and can participate in the ceremony as a godparent — C.L., Potomac, Maryland. ​The Catholic Church also has a set of specific requirements for people who are to fulfill the role of godparent. They need the Bishop’s OK. Like say a Catholic Marries a Hindu and they Want a Hindu wedding because … Even as such they stand ready to assist the parents in any way they could for the good of the child. Having been born and raised in the Catholic faith and a practicing Catholic, it was always my understanding that as long as one godparent is Catholic, that it was OK to have the other godparent be a non-Catholic person to be the godparent. The role of godparent is an important one in the Catholic church. For example, Catholics expect a godparent to be a practicing Catholic. I told them that the function of godparents, in my understanding, is to assist the parents in bringing up the child in the Faith. They do not merely undertake a responsibility for the Christian education of the person being baptized (or confirmed) as a relation or friend; they are also there as representatives of a community of faith, standing as guarantees of the candidate’s faith and desire for ecclesial communion. To be Catholic Institute Press as godparent in an Eastern orthodox Church, he/she. §1, 5º ) set of specific requirements for people who are to fulfill the role of godparent becomes upon... 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