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...

Re: Choosing Godparents- Are there rules?

I agree with your thinking. It doesn't necessarily have to be your maid of honor or best man. Many people might pick those people because they typically share the same values if they are that close to you. I didn't choose either of my MOH (I had two). One was my sister and she already has grown kids. God forbid something happen to us and she is forced to take care of an infant when she is already done with kids.

Yet, in reality, it has no legal merit. So, if you really want someone to take care of your child, it should be done through a lawyer anyway. And many churches now allow one Godparent to not even be Catholic. There's just so much to think about. There really isn't a right or wrong answer.

Re: Choosing Godparents- Are there rules?

You can have just one Godparent or if you have two, only one has to be catholic, but the other does have to be a branch Christian faith.

Godparent can not be Jewish or Muslim ..

Also my church will not allow two Godparents of the same sex.

Godparent is only agreeing to be responsible for the religious aspect of your child if something was to happen to you or your spouse. They have no legial responsibilty.

When dh and I were deciding on who was going to be our Godparent to our dd we wanted someone we knew she could go too if she felt she couldnt come to us, and someone who will always be a part of her life. We picked my sis and brother. His family is of different faith so we could not choose from his side.

Re: Choosing Godparents- Are there rules?

You definitely don't have to pick the best man or MOH...we aren't having either.
The Godparents do not get the child if something happens to you - you have to appoint legal Guardians for the child through a lawyer, otherwise he/she will just go to the next of kin.
You are right about the Godparents teaching the child religion and values...that is how you are supposed to pick the Godparents.
Religion has everything to do with Godparents. It's strictly a Christian ceremony - mostly Catholic, but I believe other Christian religions do it also. Both of our Godparents will be Catholic, but I know from my friend that now (as other posters said) only one has to be Catholic, the other can be another Christian religion.

Re: Choosing Godparents- Are there rules?

Of course it has to do with religion, it's a Sacrament. You are suppossed to pick people that will step in and raise your chidren within the church - they don't necessarily have to raise then.

The Godparents have to be practicing Catholics. Our Godparents had to get letters from their parish.

Re: Choosing Godparents- Are there rules?

A God Parent can be any one that you love, trust and admire! I do believe they have to be Cathloic but it is not necessary that they made all 7 sacraments. When you fill out the paper work they will ask you what their religion is.

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 a brother and his wife. I want to keep it family only. This way I know my child will never be with out their god parent.

Message edited 1/20/2008 11:14:09 AM.

Re: Choosing Godparents- Are there rules?

I don't think their are rules. In my Church one has to be Catholic and the other can be Christian. We are picking family. DH's brother is going to be Godfather and his future wife is going to be Godmother. DH's brother was his Best Man but FSIL was not my MOH (my two sisters were). We wanted to pick a couple that we were close with.

Re: Choosing Godparents- Are there rules?

This is how I see it:

Godparents: those who you hope will teach your child the same religious values you & Dh have. My opinion is that if you have family you can ask, family is best because friends are not always around.


Guardians: do not need to be the same people who will be the godparents. The gaurdians should be who you can trust to raise your children if something happens to both of you.




That said, we have chosen my youngest sister & youngest brother as the godparents for our first child due in June.

The people who I have asked to be legal guardians of all my children should something happen to both of us is the older of my sisters (a year younger then me) and her DH. They have no kids yet, but will someday & I think they would be amazing with children!

Re: Choosing Godparents- Are there rules?

Traditionally, like when our parents had us, it was maid of honor and best man. But that was also when maid of honor and best man were only in the family and it went by age order within the family. So that "rule" does not really apply anymore.

To me a picking a godparent is a religious thing. The baby is receiving a sacrament and you should pick you who want to help raise the child within the religion. It does not mean they have legal guardianship should something happen to you and DH. That has to be declared in a will.

Re: Choosing Godparents- Are there rules?

Re: Choosing Godparents- Are there rules?

I am having two of our closest friends as the godparents. I am not even preggers yet, or trying, but I have already told her that she is going to be the godmother and i told her that we are going to ask her fh to be the godfather. She seems so excited.

Re: Choosing Godparents- Are there rules?

i just christened my DD and the church said ONLY one godparent (now calles sponsers) have to be a practicing catholic. I ended up using my sister and my Dh's younger brother. (both were best man and maid or honor) but it just ended up like that. just so you know different religions are ok ..


sorry to barge in this board..(i kinda miss it since i had my DD in Aug)

Re: Choosing Godparents- Are there rules?

double check with your specific parish. ours required that BOTH god parents had received all 3 sacraments (baptism, communion, confirmation).

Also, and this is JMO - I would think twice about picking a couple as godparents. You have no idea what the future holds, and your child could end up without a godparent.