BLOG POST | Hey Deacon!

Some of you may be aware that my wife, Beth, and I help with baptism preparation classes for couples and single parents that desire to have their child baptized.  We encourage the godparents, if local, to attend the class as well. More times than not, the parent(s) are unsure of who to ask to be Godparents and unaware that the Church has some prerequisites to be a Godparent.

To be a Godparent in the Catholic Church, they must be Catholic and not the parent of the one being baptized. They need to be registered in a parish and attend Mass weekly. They have received all three sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Holy Communion, and Confirmation.   They must be at least 16 years old.  If married, they need to have been married in the Catholic Church. (Please note that being legally separated and/or divorced does not in itself prevent a person from serving as a Godparent.  However, one who is separated or divorced must be living as a single person and not living with someone else; and if remarried, had their prior marriage annulled by the Church.)

While it is customary to have both a Godfather and a Godmother, the Sacrament of Baptism requires a minimum of one Godparent who meets all the requirements listed in the paragraph above.  And in choosing to have both a Godfather and a Godmother, they must be male and female.  The Church does not allow two males or two females to be Godparents.

There is also the question regarding whether a non-Catholic can be a Godparent. 

If a person is not Catholic but is a baptized Christian and a good example of Christianity in practice, they may participate, together with a Godparent who meets all the requirements above as a “Christian Witness” of the Baptism (Canon Law, Can. 874.2).  This person would be listed as a Christian Witness and not listed as a Godparent in the parish’s Baptismal Register.

When choosing a Godparent, the parent(s) need to prayerfully consider a few things.  Does the person truly exemplify the faith by living according to the teachings of the Catholic Church?  Does the person live a life in harmony with the Church?  Does the person regularly practice their faith by participating in the sacramental life of the Church?

The role of a Godparent is more than being a relative or friend who encourages Christian behavior. The Godparent represents the Church, the community of faith, into which the child is being baptized and will assist the child to grow in that community.  For a Catholic baptism, only a Catholic can take on this responsibility.




Author Bio:
Deacon Dan Vaughn