Greetings

I understand that at our child's baptism we must have one qualified God Parent, i.e. Catholic, active in the church, etc...This is not a problem. In addition to the God Parent, I understand that we may have a "witness" who is not Catholic. My questions are can we have two witnesses in addition to the God Parent, and what are the faith requirements for them? Do they need to be Christians or can they follow another faith? Thank you.

-- Jolene M. Schira (Jschira@aol.com), August 17, 2004

Answers

Bump to New Answers to invite comment.

-- (bump@bump.bump), August 17, 2004.

Officially designated baptismal witnesses should be baptized Christians. The relevant statement in canon law reads as follows ...

"A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community may be admitted only in company with a Catholic sponsor, and then simply as a witness to the baptism".

This only makes sense. I could not see myself as a Catholic serving as an official witness at a bar mitzvah. I wouldn't even know what was going on. I could read about it and gain some factual information, but I could never relate to what was happening the same way a Jewish person could.

Canon law does not specifically address the question of additional witnesses. I don't think that would be a problem.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), August 17, 2004.

" a "witness" who is not Catholic" what if everyone is a catholic, there aren't anyone who is "a "witness" who is not Catholic" [My hope, one religion,one human race] so is more appropriate to say

"A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community may be admitted only in company with a Catholic sponsor, and then simply as a witness to the baptism".

A witness who is a non-Catholic can only be allowed when is accompany with a Catholic sponsor, i was in many baptism, and even as witness myself

(stealing thread,so sorry) How many times can a Catholic be a God-parent?

-- James (james_how1@yahoo.com), August 27, 2004.