baptismal sponsors

[theculturewarrior]

I just found out that a certain diocese in Texas allows pretty much anybody to be baptismal sponsors, including non-Christians.

[franciscanheart]

which diocese is that?

[theculturewarrior]

The Archdiocese of San Antonio.

[franciscanheart]

are you sure?

[IcePrincessKRS]

technically parents are allowed to have a non-Catholic be a Christian sponsor, but there still must be one Catholic Godparent.

But non-Christians? Thats not allowed.

[theculturewarrior]

I was under the impression that sponsors had to be Catholics in good standing with the Church, having been Catholic for at least a year.

[Jaime]

nope

Just one and it doesn't necessarily have to be in good standing.

[Noel's angel]

tut tut. Our priest always questions people about their faith before baptising the child

[theculturewarrior]

[quote]Can. 874 ß1 To be admitted to undertake the office of sponsor, a person must:


1ƒ be appointed by the candidate for baptism, or by the parents or whoever stands in their place, or failing these, by the parish priest or the minister; to be appointed the person must be suitable for this role and have the intention of fulfilling it;


2ƒ be not less than sixteen years of age, unless a different age has been stipulated by the diocesan Bishop, or unless the parish priest or the minister considers that there is a just reason for an exception to be made;


3ƒ be a catholic who has been confirmed and has received the blessed Eucharist, and [b]who lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken; [/b]


4ƒ not labor under a canonical penalty, whether imposed or declared;


5ƒ not be either the father or the mother of the person to be baptized.


ß2 A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community may be admitted only in company with a catholic sponsor, and then [b]simply as a witness[/b] to the baptism.

[/quote]

Emphasis added.

[allis-challmers]

I just went through a baptism on Saturday. We were asked six questions about our faith and what does someone say when they are asked by the priest about their faith. do they say I don't
Does the priest still have them as there sponser if they would say that????

[IcePrincessKRS]

[url="http://www.stpeterdanb.org/Sac/Baptism.htm"]http://www.stpeterdanb.org/Sac/Baptism.htm[/url]
[url="http://cweb.snip.net/stjude/baptism.htm"]http://cweb.snip.net/stjude/baptism.htm[/url]

Here are a couple websites that detail the requirements. I'll see if I can find anything that explains the canon law, too.

I admit, my choice of words wasn't exactly correct. Only a Catholic may be a sponsor, ie, Godparent, but a non-Catholic Christian may be a "sponsor", ie, Christian Witness. In that case there still must be one Catholic Godparent.

[IcePrincessKRS]

[url="http://www.drvc.org/chancery/sponsor3.html"]http://www.drvc.org/chancery/sponsor3.html[/url]

[url="http://www.setonhome.org/resources/prechild.stm"]http://www.setonhome.org/resources/prechild.stm[/url]
[quote]Touching another matter, canon law does not require baptismal sponsors, known popularly as "godparents," but the practice is strongly encouraged (Canon 872). A sponsor may be of either sex, or there may be two sponsors of opposite sexes, but not two sponsors of the same sex (Canon 873). Sponsors must be practicing Catholics, generally over age 16, and cannot be the parents of the one to be baptized (Canon 874 § 1). Non-Catholics cannot serve as baptismal sponsors, although they may be admitted as official witnesses to the Baptism (Canons 874 § 2).[/quote]

Edited August 22, 2005 by IcePrincessKRS

[cappie]

This is what I give parents as a guide to the choice of god-parents

GUIDELINES FOR GODPARENTS

Godparents have two specific jobs: 1. Witnessing the ceremony; and 2. Protecting the child. The first role is easy to understand. Godparents literally represent God at the ceremony.
WITNESSES TO THE CEREMONY
There are some necessary qualifications for those serve as godparents at a Catholic Baptism.
• They must be practicing Roman Catholics at least 16 years of age. Practicing means that they faithfully follow the precepts* of the Church
• They must have received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
• Some Dioceses allow a person who is not a Roman Catholic to serve as a "Christian Witness". In this case, there must be at least one Roman Catholic who serves as the true godparent.
PROTECTING THE CHILD
The second role takes much more involvement. It requires an on-going contact with the child. While you may want friends or relatives who live far away, it would be better to have godparents who can see the child on a regular basis.
When you celebrate the anniversary of your child's Baptism, the godparents should take part. The godparents should be considered as the appropriate sponsors at Confirmation, when the child becomes old enough. If anything should prevent you as parents from raising your child in the Catholic faith, godparents have a serious obligation to see that this is done.
When you pick someone to be a godparent for your child, you should have all of these tasks in mind. Will the people be able to continue a relationship with the child? Are they good role models? Would they be able to help you raise the child in faith? Would they be available to serve as sponsors at the Sacrament of Confirmation? Don't just pick someone whom you want to honor, think of your child's future.

-----------------------------------------------------------
*The Precepts of the Church
The precepts of the Church are guidelines to Catholic life. They are sort of the six Commandments of the Church:
1. You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor.
2. You shall confess your serious sins at least once a year.
3. You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season.
4. You shall obey the laws of the Church concerning marriage.
5. You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church.
6. You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church.

[IcePrincessKRS]

Thank you Cappie. We actually took alot of those same points into consideration when choosing our children's godparents.

[theculturewarrior]

[quote name='IcePrincessKRS' date='Aug 22 2005, 04:53 PM'][url="http://www.stpeterdanb.org/Sac/Baptism.htm"]http://www.stpeterdanb.org/Sac/Baptism.htm[/url]
[url="http://cweb.snip.net/stjude/baptism.htm"]http://cweb.snip.net/stjude/baptism.htm[/url]

Here are a couple websites that detail the requirements. I'll see if I can find anything that explains the canon law, too.

I admit, my choice of words wasn't exactly correct. Only a Catholic may be a sponsor, ie, Godparent, but a non-Catholic Christian may be a "sponsor", ie, Christian Witness. In that case there still must be one Catholic Godparent.
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[/quote]

I'm sorry. I'm trying to cut back on finger wagging. This is another finger wagging thread, I guess.