I am Catholic and my husband and I were chosen to be godparents of our niece.?

Question

We need to baptize and we have run into a little bit of a problem. The catholic church requires marraige through a catholic church. My husband and I are married only through church. What can we do besides get married again in a church? Any other suggestions? Is there any where else that will let us baptize her?

I meant to say that my husband and I are married only through court! Sorry

Oh by the way I live in Anaheim,California.

Answer 1

Most of the other respondents don't seem to understand that if a Catholic has married outside of the Church, the Church does not recognize that marriage and views it as fornication, or, if there is a prior bond, adultery. THAT is why you cannot be godparents. Even if you WERE married in the Church, if you are not going to Mass regularly, etc. you STILL couldn't be godparents. You have to be PRACTICING Catholics. How can you be expected to help your niece live a Christian life if you yourselves are not doing so?
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I'm stunned tootsie would advise you to lie. That is breaking one of the Commandments. BTW, it is my understanding that they DO "check for references". When I was received into the Church, my sponsor had to bring a note from his parish priest stating he was a practicing Catholic in good standing.

Answer 2

The marital status of the godparents is irrelevant. The parents of the child to be Baptized assumes the right to choose whomever they want as the godfather and the godmother. The godparents do not have to be married to each other.

As godparent, you must stand witness to the child's Baptism, and answer to the Baptismal vows in the child's stread. From there, you serve your godchild as a cuide in the faith, unstructing them in matters concerning the Spirit.

When my children are Baptized, my wife and I try to pick one member from each side of the family to be godparent. So, you see, the god parents need not be a married couple at all.

On another note ENTIRELY: The Church does not recognize a court-ruling as a valid marital bond. If you do not want to be living in sin, I suggest you and your husband seek marriage in a Church.

Answer 3

Your marriage has no bearing on you being Godparents to your niece or anyone else for that matter. If the baby is being baptized a Catholic then the requirement for the Godparents is that at least one is a practicing Catholic and the second can be any baptized Christian.

Answer 4

It was nice of your relatives to choose you as God-parents, but unfortunately they are not well informed Catholics. (or you have kept your civil marriage a secret),

In order to receive the sacraments in the Catholic Church, and in order to be worthy God-parents which means your job is to ensure the child has a spiritual life as they grow up, you need what is called a Convalidation.

It is not a remarriage, but a simple ceremony that elevates your existing marriage to the level of a sacrament. Some call it getting your marriage blessed, but that is not a good term.

Here is a reliable web site that explains convalidation:
http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0604.asp

Answer 5

Simple either lie or have your in- laws stand their ground and say so what they are going to be godparents and thats it. My godfather is a Protestant(I was baptized Catholic with him there and the Priest knew that he wasn't Catholic).This was before the church got kind of lack about stuff. If you lie say that you were married in a catholic church overseas or down in the hurricane area they don't check for references.

Answer 6

There's some misunderstanding here.
At least one godparent must be catholic
and will need a letter of membership from
a church. It is not required both godparents are
catholic and they certainly don't need to be married
yet alone in a catholic ceremony. Go to church and
clarify all this with the priest.

Answer 7

are u saying that the church where your niece is to be baptized won't let u be the god parents? I was married to S.Baptist, I am roman catholic. I went through catholic procedure. to marry a S. Baptist, whew..( I don't agree now that this is fair for them to back us into their corner) I had 2 children. We had a married couple of mixed denomination to be god parents of one of our children, no one asked what religion they were.
I don't see why any one would deny a baby a baptism...Try a baptist community .This is ridiculous. God Bless and Good Luck.

Answer 8

<> Baptized, shown, and lively Catholics. <> confident, they'd desire to be Catholic. that's the godparents' interest to work out that their god baby is raised and knowledgeable interior the Catholic faith. If, for despite reason, the mummy and dad fail or exchange into unable to fulfill this criminal accountability, the godparents stand waiting to take over this accountability.

Answer 9

Oh that's an easy fix. You can simply ask a priest or bishop from your church to bless and sanctify your marriage. My husband and I plan to do that once we are done with RCIA and are fully in the church.

=)

Answer 10

what??? YOU don't baptise a child in the catholic church, the priest does, and to make your marriage sanctified in the catholic church, all you have to do is bring your wedding cirtificate to the priest and ask him to bless your marriage.