My Husband and I recently had a baby He is Roman Catholic and I am Buddhist. He persists that we baptize our child, and I am trying to understand, but what is the purpose/role of a Godmother and Godfather in the Catholic religion? HELP!!!
2006-11-12 13:13:40 · 8 answers · asked by SImply Curious 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The role of the godfather and/or godmother is very important. They must be firm Catholic believers, able and ready to help the newly baptized—child or adult—on the road of Christian life.
To ensure this, a godparent must be at least 16 years old (for maturity's sake), fully initiated (having received Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist), be someone other than the legal parents, and one who leads a life in harmony with the Church.
With love in Christ.
2006-11-12 14:44:02 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
In olden days the godparents where suppossed to assist in the religous guidence of the child. They were also to look after the child if both parents died. Nowdays it is only a ceremony and the godparents have no real rights or responsibilites. It is just nice to think someone likes you enough to want to include you in the childs ceremony. The roman catholics believed if the child died before christening that they would go to limbo (between heaven and hell - no mans land). Now its just an excuse for a party.
2006-11-12 13:19:46 · answer #2 · answered by auntynoall 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
All this means is that the Godparents, one or both, will help the child learn about Catholicism...see that the child is getting proper instruction; if either or both parents won't or can't. Kinda means a "parent in God"; nothing legal; just spiritual.
Example: if your spouse were to have an accident and be incapacitated; while the child is young; the Godparent would take over the religious instruction he would be unable to do. But they don't have anything to do with "mothering" your kids...it's all religious training.
Or, in my case: my Catholic father was an over-the-road trucker; and my Godparents help with my questions, religious training, sponsorship,
etc.
In this day and age; with the pedophile priests that are making the news; a Godparent ( someone YOU trust) is preferable to teach the kids; over a priest. ( and I don't care WHO the priest might be...I will not let my children be alone with ANY grown-up; out of my sight, I don't trust.) Sorry, Father, but not even in confession....out of hearing, yes, but out of my sight, NO.
2006-11-12 13:27:38 · answer #3 · answered by madamspinner2 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My godmother visits once and a while, but I don't think she is very religious, nor are my parents. She is just like a very good friend of the family.
2006-11-12 14:47:21 · answer #4 · answered by LearningGuy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The purpose of Godparents are that they promise that if anything happened to you or your spouse, they would make sure your child is brought up in the faith. It doesn't give them any legal stand if they wanted to take them in. that's why it's important that you have a will stating exactly who you want to take your child in if the need ever arises.
2006-11-12 13:17:56 · answer #5 · answered by ckrug 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Godmother takes over the Family if the Godfather gets WHACKED!
2006-11-12 13:17:13 · answer #6 · answered by Tegghiaio Aldobrandi 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
it's like under thier care in case of somekind of need u should support that child
2006-11-12 13:15:34 · answer #7 · answered by george p 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
their purpose is to help the individual grow in faith where their parents cannot aid them in.
2006-11-12 13:16:15 · answer #8 · answered by Long_live_God 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋