What are God Parents?

Question

I have married into what I suppose you would call a "non-practicing Catholic family". I am a Baptist.My step-children and niece have God parents. I thought I'd heard somewhere that God parents were responsible for the children's religious upbringing. My husband said he'd never heard of that, that the God parents were to take the children in the event of the parent's death-that was the purpose.Also,the kids call the God father a French sounding name,that begins with a P, but they call the God mother "Nanny", which to me, sounds like a goat, or a redneck grandmother. So,my question is,what are the duties of God parents, and what are the names to call them?

Answer 1

Im Catholic and the duties of the God Parents are to help with the religious upbringing. I know that some people also consider God Parents the person they would chose to raise their child upon thier death but that is a newer practice. God Parents do not have any title such as "nanny" you can call them anything you chose. I hope this has helped you

Answer 2

God parents are there for the kids if there is something they can not talk to their parents about, they can ask them, they are supposed to have the same morals as the parents and give the same advice - kinda like another person - but the same answer.

They are also there to help with their religious education and upbringing.

In the event of the parents death, that they will continue to raise the children in the parents chosen religious, that has nothing to due with the children "living with the God parents".

As for the naming thing...I only know of a person from New Orleans want to be called that if they were named as a God Parent, yes it was a woman.

No name that I can think of, at least that is what I was taught in RCIA class two years ago.....

Answer 3

Godparents (or sponsors) are people who stand with the parents at the child's baptism. In the old days, these where the people who would be considered "next of kin" if something happened to both parents. In Catholicism today, they are to support the parents in the religious upbringing of the child.

There are no formal names for the godparents... it sounds like that family has French roots and is using "Pere" (French for "father") as the name for the godfather. Nanny is one of the shortened forms of "grandmother" (granny), but I guess they might be using that as well.

So what do you call them? If, for example, you choose the child's aunt and uncle to be the godparents, the child will probably call them "Aunt Sarah and Uncle Bill." If they are family friends, it might be "Mr. and Mrs. Jones" or "Sarah and Bill" depending on the formality of the household. There is no set custom.

This link is to an article you might find helpful. It's wordy and a touch conservative, but it is extremely complete in its content. http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0233.html Otherwise, talk to a local Catholic priest - he should be able to give you the 411.

Answer 4

God Parents are responsible of your children in case something happens to you were you can't take care of them or in death. also like you said in children's religious upbringing, make sure that your children establish a good relationship with their God parents. that they could count on them when they need them. To be a God parent is a big responsibility it is almost like being a parent. you could call them what ever you want to it doesn't matter.

Answer 5

God parents in the catholic point of view are responsible for your children religious upbringing as you said. However for most people it is nothing else than the opportunitty to give someone you care about like a good friend a tittle and responsabilitie related to your child.

Answer 6

God parents are the people who would take care of their God children if something happened to the children's parents. They are also responsible for the religious upbringing of the children if the parents are unable to do so. The french sounding name that you are referring to is paran (I know its not spelled right). But I call my God parents nanny and uncle. I am Baptist.

Answer 7

Godparents are people who help raise the children and who would assume responsibility in the event of the death of both parents. You could call them 'godmother' or 'godfather' but I think most people just call them by their first name. Godparents are most common in Catholic families, but having them is not limited to only Catholic families.

Answer 8

Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Heavenly Father). Almighty God is a separate supernatural being who dwells interior the dominion Of Heaven. The Holy Spirit isn't a living individual in line with se, yet a impressive potential source ( purely like extremely violet rays from the solar) it is controlled and directed by using God Himself. The Scriptures would not let us know if God (Heavenly Father) has mom and dad or not. yet He ought to have because of the fact how else exchange into He created?

Answer 9

You establish who takes care of your children in case of death in your will. You can choose it to be the god parents or anyone else for that matter. I have god parents but they arent who my parents down to take me if they died. They were primarily respobcible for bringing me up in the Catholic faith if my parents died. That is the view of the God parent from the churches ppint of view.

You and your husband shoudl talk about who youwant to have your kids if you die and put it in a will so you wishes are clear to others. Its really a family decision and a great responcibility.

Answer 10

godparents acts like second parents to your children.They act as a guide, a nurturer and a surrogate parent. they may take godparents as nannies but come to think of it, nannies are the ones who are always there for the children especially when it comes to their emotional needs when parents are not there. explain to your husband that in his belief there may no such thing as a godpaent but be known to him that since you've been raised in a way wherein godparents play an important role to your children,he might think of living to the idea that there are people he can rely on when it comes to your children.