| Posted By |
Message |
kflobaby
LIF Zygote
Member since 12/07 4 total posts
Name:
Karen
|
Choosing Godparents- Are there rules?
I'm due in April and we have already chosen the Godparents for our child. Not only that, but we already announced it to the people we have chosen.
A few comments were asked of me & I wonder if its normal.
Are you supposed to pick your best man and maid of Honor for your first?? I've never heard of that.
I always thought a Godparent was someone you can rely on if God forbid something should happen to the parents. They are the people you choose to take the responsibility of bringing your child up with your religion and values.
Someone told me religion has nothing to do with choosing a God Parent. What do you think?
In my opinion, this is a sacrament and I would think to choose someone who practices my faith. (Catholic)
I'm curious in what you all have to say...
|
Posted 1/20/08 1:33 AM  |
| |
|
Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
mamasita27
OHANA
Member since 8/07 5974 total posts
Name:
MB
|
Re: Choosing Godparents- Are there rules?
My mom said that traditionally you would pick your best man and maid of honor, but nowadays you can do pretty much whatever you want. I was thinking the same thing about the godparents being practicing Catholics, but my mom (who is very religious) even said if there isn't someone you are very close to who and also religious, it's ok to pick someone else who you are close to and you know would be there for you and your child. We are most likely going with our best man and maid of honor, not because of the old tradition but because my maid of honor was my only sister so she gets first dibs and our best man was DH's best friend and so we're going with him. Neither of us have brothers or brothers in law or male relatives we are very close to. Hope that helps!
|
| Posted 1/20/08 7:55 AM |
| |
|
sfp0701
Liam's Mommy!
Member since 1/07 9764 total posts
Name:
Tricia
|
Re: Choosing Godparents- Are there rules?
I thought that if you are baptizing in the Catholic Church the godparents had to be confirmed Catholics? That is why everyone always tells me my sister can't do it when the time comes because she never got confirmed? hmm... I think I need to do some research.
BTW I have never heard of using MOH and BM. Maybe that is an old tradition.
|
| Posted 1/20/08 8:06 AM |
| |
|
sfp0701
Liam's Mommy!
Member since 1/07 9764 total posts
Name:
Tricia
|
Re: Choosing Godparents- Are there rules?
Posted by sfp0701
I thought that if you are baptizing in the Catholic Church the godparents had to be confirmed Catholics? That is why everyone always tells me my sister can't do it when the time comes because she never got confirmed? hmm... I think I need to do some research.
BTW I have never heard of using MOH and BM. Maybe that is an old tradition.
okay.. you got me thinking about this and I did some research. According to Cannon Law, At least one of the godparents must be a confirmed Catholic and the second can be called a Christian witness if they are of a different Christian faith.
"To be a sponsor, a person must be chosen by the person to be baptized, or by the parents or guardians of a child, or, in their absence, by the pastor or minister of the sacrament. The sponsor must not only have the intention of being a sponsor but also meet proper qualifications. The sponsor must have completed his sixteenth year unless the Bishop has established another age for sponsorship, or the pastor or minister judges that a just cause warrants an exception to the rule. He must be a Catholic who has received the sacraments of holy Eucharist and confirmation, and "leads a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken." Moreover, the sponsor cannot be impeded by some canonical penalty. Ideally, this sponsor at baptism should also be the sponsor for confirmation. Note that the mother and father of the child cannot serve as sponsors. Also note that these are the same requirements for confirmation sponsors. (Cf. Code of Canon Law, No. 874.1).
What if someone would like to have a faithful Protestant friend as a sponsor? Technically, only Catholics can be godparents or sponsors. A Christian of another denomination, whether Orthodox or Protestant, however, may be a "Christian witness" to the baptism along with the Catholic godparent. The reason for this distinction and restriction is that the godparent not only is taking responsibility for the religious education and spiritual formation of the baptized person, but also is representing the Church, the community of faith, into which the person is being baptized. A Christian who is not Catholic, although perhaps a very holy, Christian, cannot fully attest to the beliefs of the Catholic Church. Likewise, a Catholic can only be a Christian witness for someone who is baptized into another Christian denomination. (Cf. Vatican II, Decree on Ecumenism, No. 57). "
So that answers part of your question. Now I would to hear more opinions about whether it is supposed to MOH and BM. My problem is that my FIL was DH's BM. So it would be kind of weird to have a grandparent be the God parent.
|
| Posted 1/20/08 8:21 AM |
| |
|
Karen
Just chillin'!!
Member since 1/06 9690 total posts
Name:
Karen
|
Re: Choosing Godparents- Are there rules?
regarding the religion of godparents - you need to check with your church, because it can vary. Mine required that both godparents had received all 3 sacraments (baptism, communion, and confirmation).
We are using our MOH and BM. I look at it this way - we picked them for our MOH and BM because they were that important in our lives, and we want them to be an important part of our DD's life.
|
| Posted 1/20/08 8:49 AM |
| |
|
KristinasMama
How did she turn 2 so quickly?
Member since 10/07 8257 total posts
Name:
Blessed Mama of Kristina Elena
|
Re: Choosing Godparents- Are there rules?
I am having such a hard time writing today.... 
I am my goddaughter's godmother, but only in name to her parents. I am an 'honorary' is what I believe the church called it.
The church allowed me to stand as I am baptized Greek Orthodox, and believe in the church and God, however, would not assign me the role of Godparent as I am not Catholic.
The same thing will happen when I baptize DD. My sister will be her Godmother in the GO church, however, Brian's brother will only be able to be an honorary because he is Catholic.
Not a biggie IMO, because honestly, my mom converted from Catholicism to being a GO years ago, and the differences are soooooooooooooo small and insignificant IMO.
|
| Posted 1/20/08 9:02 AM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: Choosing Godparents- Are there rules?
A God Parent can be any one that you love, trust and admire!
The couple that baptized my DD 8 years ago are now in the process for a divorce. B/c of that I don't choose couples anymore.
Therefore my other 2 DD's have separate godparents. Ex: a brother and a sister rather than his brother and his wife. I want to keep it family only.
|
| Posted 1/20/08 9:22 AM |
| |
|
MrsPowers
So blessed!
Member since 11/06 10348 total posts
Name:
Ivelysse
|
Re: Choosing Godparents- Are there rules?
Just speaking from my personal experience, my godparents were my parents' best friends. they are obvoisly not relatives of mine. I do like it that way. I think when the time comes we will choose friends but not necessarily moh and bm because MOH is a friend and I am not crazy about her DH and BM is my BIL and he is already going to be an important part of our child's life.
|
| Posted 1/20/08 9:52 AM |
| |
|
