Can people of Protestant religion be Godparents to the baby being baptized in the Catholic church?

Question

One godparent would be Catholic, and is married to a protestant. Can they be godparents in Catholic church?

Answer 1

No, but one can be an official witness.

Actually only one Godparent is necessary. You can have one godfather, one godmother, or one of each.

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.

If you have only one Catholic godparent, then you may have a non-Catholic participate as an official witness. The witness will be responsible for setting a good example for the baptized person while the Catholic godparent will share the specifics of the Catholic faith.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Only practicing Catholics who are in good standing with the Church can be godparents in a Catholic Baptism because the godparents promise to be responsible for the Catholic upbringing of the child in case the parents fail their duty.

Did the Catholic you are considering get married in the catholic Church or at least have the marriage blessed by a Catholic priest? Does she go to Mass and receive the Eucharist every Sunday? The answer to these questions must be "yes" for this person to be a valid godparent.

Answer 3

The rule is thus that there is always to be at least one Catholic godparent, who can be either male or female.

There can be a Catholic godparent and a baptized Protestant witness.

Unlike many Protestant churches, the Catholic Church recognizes all Christian baptisms, not just Catholic ones.

Answer 4

It is the responsibility of the Godparents to make sure their Godchild is educated in the Catholic Faith. That is why all Godparents must be Catholics.

If a Godparent's spouse is non-Catholic, that will not disqualify the Catholic from being a Godparent.

Answer 5

In theory, no. The Godparents of a Catholic child are supposed to assist the parents of that child in raising him or her in the faith of the catholic Church. Catechism, it would normally be thought, is not something that can be taught by someone who is not Catholic. Though, I imagine, that to some extent, as is the case with interfaith marriages, special dispensation can be applied for if there is no other suitable replacement for a Protestant godparent.

Answer 6

A Protestant, who is baptized, may be a "Christian Witness," to a baptism...but not a Godparent.

The role of the Godparent is to ensure the child is raised Catholic. That is difficult for a Baptist or Methodist to do.

Given your situation, you would have one Godparent, and one Christian Witness. You only need one Godparent.

Answer 7

As long as one godparent is Catholic, that is all that matters.

The non Catholic would be called a Christian Witness.

Oh- they must be validly married in the Catholic Church to be Godparents.

Answer 8

If I can remember this correctly (my only godson was born 38 years ago), the only requirement is that the godparents raise the child in the Catholic religion - that's the promise they're making at the baptism.

Answer 9

<> Baptized, Confirmed, and active Catholics. <> Yes, they need to be Catholic. It's the godparents' job to see that their god child is raised and educated in the Catholic Faith. If, for whatever reason, the parents fail or become unable to fulfill this obligation, the godparents stand ready to take over this responsibility.

Answer 10

Pastor Billy says both should be Catholic no way around it. The purpose is to ensure the child will be raised Catholic. Do you have to choose a couple? no so why not pick the one in the couple that is Catholic and find another Catholic also.