My friend had a baby and wants me to be godmother but I do not go to church or christened. The godfather isn't either can we still be the godparents?

-- Andrea (angie_ice_cream@hotmail.com), April 13, 2004

Answers

bump

-- (bump@bump.bump), April 13, 2004.

Godparents must be baptized, confirmed, practicing Catholics.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), April 13, 2004.

Andrea, of course, Paul is correct..I just wanted to add that the purpose of being godparents is to watch over the child spiritually..to make sure that this child is being brought up in the Catholic Faith..that's quite a serious responsibility..how could someone possibly do that if they are not even Catholic,are not committed to the Church, or don't even know anything about the Catholic Faith? It is unfortunate that a Catholic asked you to be godparent to their child..that person certainly should have known better. You sound like a nice person who takes responsibilities seriously..I hope that perhaps someday, you might consider looking into the Catholic Church for yourself..hey, you never know?

-- lesley (martchas@hotmail.com), April 13, 2004.

At least one of the Godparents, must be Catholic to receive the Sacrament through the church.

-- Leon (pookieboy@hotmail.com), April 15, 2004.

Actually both must be confirmed practicing Catholics to be officially recognized as "godparents" (officially termed "sponsors"). However there is no requirement to have two sponsors. A non-Catholic Christian can participate as a "witness", in which case there would be one sponsor, who must meet the requirements of the Church for sponsors, and one official witness to the baptism.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), April 15, 2004.

my priest baptised a child recently with no sponsors and no witnesses. he did it at the start of Mass (but the congregation had no formal role as witnesses, even though we all "witnessed" it). it took about 2 minutes. we all clapped.

-- Ian (ib@vertifgo.com), April 15, 2004.

A baptised Christian can be a "Christian Witness", but you must be a practicing Catholic to be a Godparent. This is of course assuming you are talking about a Catholic baptism. Other churches have their own rules, or lack thereof.

Frank

-- Someone (ChimingIn@twocents.cam), April 15, 2004.

Oh, there's also an age requirement, I think it's 16, but might be 14 or 18 years old minimum. Can't recall exactly what though.

Frank

-- Someone (ChimingIn@twocents.cam), April 15, 2004.

Andrea:

here's the Canon Law on Sponsors & Witnesses:

http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P2X.HTM

http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P2Y.HTM

-- Ian (ib@vertifgo.com), April 15, 2004.