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Domino
Always My Miracle
Member since 9/05 9923 total posts
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Godparents and the Catholic Church
If you had your child baptised in a catholic church were you able to choose Godparents who were christian or non-practicing catholics?
ETS: Both my husband and I were raised catholic and have made all our sacraments. Currently, we are practicing methodists and yet my brother said we are unable to be godparents. (Just another reason why we are not practicing catholics)  I told him that I would give him our papers but my SIL said she didnt want to "lie" to the church  Meanwhile I am Godmother to my friend's son and they required nothing of me.
Message edited 1/29/2017 7:25:22 PM.
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Posted 1/29/17 6:20 PM  |
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PhyllisNJoe
My Box Is Broken
Member since 6/11 9145 total posts
Name:
Phyllis
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Re: Godparents and the Catholic Church
I don't have children, but I do have some godchildren.
Some churches are stricter then others. My first god child, I needed a letter from the church I attended to show I was a current member (i do not attend, but my local parish gave me a letter because they really don't know who attended unless you have pre-printed envelopes for donations)
For my second, I needed my confirmation certificate To show I received all my sacraments. No need for current letter from parish.
They will however not allow someone who isnt Catholic to be a godparent. With my godson, his godfather was Muslim. he stood up there with me to baptize him, but I was the only one on the certificate (you just need one godparent to be catholic)
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| Posted 1/29/17 6:29 PM |
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OhBoyorGirl
LIF Adult
Member since 2/12 1789 total posts
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Re: Godparents and the Catholic Church
One godparent had to be a confirmed Catholic. The other needed to be a baptized Christian. ETA: the non-Catholic is technically not considered a godparent, but a witness.
Message edited 1/29/2017 6:31:20 PM.
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| Posted 1/29/17 6:29 PM |
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Re: Godparents and the Catholic Church
It depends on the church. Some ask for a signed letter from their church stating they attend mass regularly.
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| Posted 1/29/17 6:29 PM |
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MrsM429
Mama x2 <3
Member since 12/10 4946 total posts
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Re: Godparents and the Catholic Church
My church requires documentation indicating both godparents were baptized and confirmed with their specific church
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| Posted 1/29/17 6:51 PM |
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MichLiz213
Life is Good!
Member since 7/07 7979 total posts
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Godparents and the Catholic Church
It was a pain trying to get our godparents approved and they were Catholic! The church I grew up in would only allow individuals to be godparents if they had been married in the Catholic church (my brother hadn't, I wanted him to be Godfather). Then the church my husband grew up in needed a note from the first church to allow our son to be baptized at that church. I went to another church that had no problem with it, so he was baptized there. The whole experience was extremely frustrating.
Message edited 1/29/2017 7:18:41 PM.
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| Posted 1/29/17 7:18 PM |
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mommy2be716
LIF Adult
Member since 1/16 2921 total posts
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Godparents and the Catholic Church
my church asked for proof of sacraments from both of the godparents. With that said, my sister was raised catholic, but is now episcopalian. I just never told the church that
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| Posted 1/29/17 7:42 PM |
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LuckyStar
LIF Adult
Member since 7/14 7274 total posts
Name:
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Re: Godparents and the Catholic Church
Posted by OhBoyorGirl
One godparent had to be a confirmed Catholic. The other needed to be a baptized Christian. ETA: the non-Catholic is technically not considered a godparent, but a witness.
This. They didn't ask us if either godparent was practicing, though both happened to be confirmed Catholics. My bff was married in the same church DD was baptized in, but her godfather was not and they didn't ask for proof- I actually don't even remember them asking if he was married.
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| Posted 1/29/17 7:54 PM |
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Sweetlax22
LIF Adult
Member since 5/10 1904 total posts
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Re: Godparents and the Catholic Church
Posted by OhBoyorGirl
One godparent had to be a confirmed Catholic. The other needed to be a baptized Christian. ETA: the non-Catholic is technically not considered a godparent, but a witness.
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This seems to be the most popular.
I have seen where the godparents have to prove they are practing and attend church too.
While most of us pick/want to pick someone who is special to us to be an extra special person in our child's life the church views godparents as people who will help raise your children in accordance to their teachings. While this can stink in a lot of cases because you want to honor someone special to you I can also see where the church is coming from and what they believe a godparent should be.
With that being said the Catholic Church can sometimes turn people off if they are too extreme in their requiments and all that does is discourage people from wanting to become involved. 
Message edited 1/29/2017 8:48:38 PM.
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| Posted 1/29/17 8:37 PM |
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Disneygirl17
LIF Toddler
Member since 11/16 496 total posts
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Re: Godparents and the Catholic Church
We baptized our kids in 2 different Catholic Churches. The first required proof of sacraments. The other required nothing. They said they trusted that we would choose godparents who had all the sacraments. The second church was much easier to work with.
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| Posted 1/29/17 8:37 PM |
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jlm2008
LIF Adult
Member since 1/10 5092 total posts
Name:
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Re: Godparents and the Catholic Church
The whole point of a Godparent in the Catholic Church is that they help you grow in the Catholic faith and help you along your journey of Catholicism . Therefore, yes, you have to be a practicing Catholic, otherwise there is absolutely no point to it. Why people don't understand this, I will never get If you are not a Catholic, or practicing, how in the world are you going to help raise a child in the faith?? I know some Churches don't check, but to lie, well obviously that is wrong on so many levels. If you don't plan to practice your faith, there is no need to baptize your child, especially if you are going to lie from the very beginning.
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| Posted 1/29/17 9:28 PM |
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gina409
TWINS!
Member since 12/09 27635 total posts
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g
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Re: Godparents and the Catholic Church
Posted by MerryChristmas
It depends on the church. Some ask for a signed letter from their church stating they attend mass regularly.
This
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| Posted 1/29/17 9:30 PM |
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PhyllisNJoe
My Box Is Broken
Member since 6/11 9145 total posts
Name:
Phyllis
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Re: Godparents and the Catholic Church
Posted by jlm2008
The whole point of a Godparent in the Catholic Church is that they help you grow in the Catholic faith and help you along your journey of Catholicism . Therefore, yes, you have to be a practicing Catholic, otherwise there is absolutely no point to it. Why people don't understand this, I will never get If you are not a Catholic, or practicing, how in the world are you going to help raise a child in the faith?? I know some Churches don't check, but to lie, well obviously that is wrong on so many levels. If you don't plan to practice your faith, there is no need to baptize your child, especially if you are going to lie from the very beginning.
I actually agree with this. With the actual meaning of being a God parent. But for people who aren't really practicing, but still have the faith, they do it more as tradition. If we had kids, they would have been baptized - but mostly for my DH and our families. Not for me. And truth be told, if the parents are true practicing Catholics, they would only choose practicing Catholics as godparents for that exact reason- to help the child grow within the catholic faith. But for tradition, it's more of a way to honor a family member or friend and give them the god parent title.
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| Posted 1/29/17 9:36 PM |
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PhyllisNJoe
My Box Is Broken
Member since 6/11 9145 total posts
Name:
Phyllis
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Re: Godparents and the Catholic Church
Posted by Domino
If you had your child baptised in a catholic church were you able to choose Godparents who were christian or non-practicing catholics?
ETS: Both my husband and I were raised catholic and have made all our sacraments. Currently, we are practicing methodists and yet my brother said we are unable to be godparents. (Just another reason why we are not practicing catholics) I told him that I would give him our papers but my SIL said she didnt want to "lie" to the church Meanwhile I am Godmother to my friend's son and they required nothing of me.
Are your brother and sil practicing Catholics or just baptizing because "you have to baptize"?
If they are practicing , then I get why they won't just lie to the church to give you the title. But if they are just doing it Bc "you have to", then I don't see a big deal with the fib in order to honor you and your DH as godparents.
But obv... it's up to them.
Ps: I have similar issues w the Catholic Church and their rules.
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| Posted 1/29/17 9:40 PM |
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Jenn79
One more?
Member since 2/12 2410 total posts
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Re: Godparents and the Catholic Church
Posted by jlm2008
The whole point of a Godparent in the Catholic Church is that they help you grow in the Catholic faith and help you along your journey of Catholicism . Therefore, yes, you have to be a practicing Catholic, otherwise there is absolutely no point to it. Why people don't understand this, I will never get If you are not a Catholic, or practicing, how in the world are you going to help raise a child in the faith?? I know some Churches don't check, but to lie, well obviously that is wrong on so many levels. If you don't plan to practice your faith, there is no need to baptize your child, especially if you are going to lie from the very beginning.
I agree.
I am catholic, I've had my kids baptized in the Catholic Church, and I'm a godparent to 3 kids.
The churches I've dealt with required the godparent to get a form signed by their church. It didn't require myself to have been married in the church, although I was. To be a godparent I got the form signed by the church i grew up in. It was super easy.
I'm also a godparent for another kid that was baptized in a Catholic Church that didn't require a form either.
Message edited 1/29/2017 11:41:30 PM.
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| Posted 1/29/17 11:39 PM |
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StarsStripes
LIF Adult
Member since 12/12 1192 total posts
Name:
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Godparents and the Catholic Church
I never understand why people are surprised when the church wants godparents to be the same religion isn't that the entire point of being a godparent? It is a sacrament in the Catholic Church, it makes complete sense that godparent should be Catholic. Sorry just my two cents, though I'm sure you don't care LOL
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| Posted 1/30/17 9:12 AM |
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StaceyWill
It's a girl!!!
Member since 6/10 21539 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Godparents and the Catholic Church
My church didn't even ask if the godparents were catholic or not.
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| Posted 1/30/17 9:16 AM |
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bunnyluck
LIF Adult
Member since 1/14 3196 total posts
Name:
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Godparents and the Catholic Church
For my church one god parent must be a confirmed catholic. The other may be Christian. The whole purpose of a godparents is to help guide and instill the beliefs of the catholic religion in the child. If you don't practice or agree with it, why would you even want to be a godparent? I never understood this. My DH is Jewish and his brother made a big stink that he couldn't be my DSs godfather...it just makes no sense to me. How can you fulfill the duties if you don't believe or have conflicting beliefs??? Sorry, and not attacking you, it just makes no sense to me.
If as a parent someone doesnt believe or agree with the church but wants to do it as a "tradition" (which again, not even sure what that means or the purpose of it) then have a non secular ceremony and choose whoever you want and do whatever you want, but you can't be upset with the church. Their reasoning is quite sound..
Message edited 1/30/2017 2:30:18 PM.
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| Posted 1/30/17 9:16 AM |
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oneday
<3
Member since 5/05 4319 total posts
Name:
Pam
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Re: Godparents and the Catholic Church
I am "Godparent" to my brother's son and my good friend's daughter. I am not Catholic and never was catholic.
Both the children have godfathers who are catholic (one is a Franciscan brother, so I figure he's got it covered.)
I can understand why people are "confused" but it is, in many families more about tradition. And, I feel like most people pick and choose which parts of the church they want to follow and this is just another one.
That being said, from what I've seen, it's very dependent upon the church. Both families who asked me knew my beliefs and never mentioned that the church requested anything from me. I never had to lie about it.
ETA - To clarify I think I will say more a title of "honor" rather than tradition maybe. I can honestly say that while my godparents were members of the church I was baptized in, besides making me feel incredibly special all my life and being there for the ceremony and buying my dress, I don't know any way they "guided" me spiritually.
Message edited 1/30/2017 9:31:07 AM.
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| Posted 1/30/17 9:23 AM |
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JennZ
MY LIFE!!
Member since 8/05 25463 total posts
Name:
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Re: Godparents and the Catholic Church
I am an atheist and god mother three times, all in Catholic churches.
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| Posted 1/30/17 9:26 AM |
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lightblue
LIF Adult
Member since 1/17 2249 total posts
Name:
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Re: Godparents and the Catholic Church
It depends on the church. Our church requires 1 godparent to be catholic and the other can be non catholic but of christian faith.
ETA- both godparents had to fill out a form with the information of the local parish they belong to
Message edited 1/30/2017 9:35:58 AM.
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| Posted 1/30/17 9:34 AM |
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MrsWoods
LIF Adult
Member since 4/12 1461 total posts
Name:
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Godparents and the Catholic Church
Our Catholic church required nothing from us. Both God parents are non practicing Catholics
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| Posted 1/30/17 9:57 AM |
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Salason
♥
Member since 6/05 9878 total posts
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Re: Godparents and the Catholic Church
Posted by StarsStripes
I never understand why people are surprised when the church wants godparents to be the same religion isn't that the entire point of being a godparent? It is a sacrament in the Catholic Church, it makes complete sense that godparent should be Catholic. Sorry just my two cents, though I'm sure you don't care LOL
Same here
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| Posted 1/30/17 12:44 PM |
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Katareen
5,000 Posts!
Member since 4/10 7180 total posts
Name:
Katherine
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Re: Godparents and the Catholic Church
Posted by StarsStripes
I never understand why people are surprised when the church wants godparents to be the same religion isn't that the entire point of being a godparent? It is a sacrament in the Catholic Church, it makes complete sense that godparent should be Catholic. Sorry just my two cents, though I'm sure you don't care LOL
I agree, it makes no sense to me at all.
If you're not going to follow the religious aspect, just have a private baby blessing in your home and remove religion from the equation.
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| Posted 1/30/17 12:58 PM |
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chris605
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Member since 5/05 3205 total posts
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Re: Godparents and the Catholic Church
I just had to attend a godparent "class" - but honestly I forgot the letter they gave me in NY, christening was in California and they never asked for it. I showed them nothing....
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| Posted 1/31/17 12:03 AM |
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