Can a catholic woman and a christian man baptize a catholic child?

Question

Is it possible for a person of another religion to baptize a catholic child? My best friends are a catholic and christian. Isn't it supposed to be that religion doesn't matter as long as they lead them into Christ? Do the godparents HAVE to be catholic?

I didn't mean that a Catholic woman is not a Christian. I'm not trying to say that. I read somewhere that the godparents of a catholic baptism HAVE to be catholic. I looked for questions already answered that were somewhat related to this question. One of the best answers chosen said that the other person that is NOT catholic cannot baptize a catholic child. Instead, that person is classified as a witness and that one godparent is ok. Don't mis-interpret what I'm trying to say please.

Answer 1

Yes.

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

#1, Catholics are christians. What I think you meant were a Catholic woman and a Protestant man.

I just looked this up on a Catholic website: http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Sep2002/Wiseman.asp

Q: What are the requirements for being a godparent? Do both godparents have to be Catholic? Must there be a man and a woman? Can godparents be changed later if the first ones turn out not to be very good role models?

A: Canon 874, #1, of the present Code of Canon Law says that the person selected must:

• be appointed by the person to be baptized, his/her parents or the parish priest and be suitable for the role and have the intention of fulfilling it,

• be at least 16 years old unless the local bishop sets a different age or the parish priest considers that there is a just reason for an exception,

• be a Catholic, be confirmed and have made his/her First Communion and “lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken,”

• not be under any canonical penalty, and

• not be the father or mother of the person who is to be baptized.

Canon 874, #2, indicates that at least one of the godparents must be a Catholic. In fact, only one godparent is required (Canon 873).

When there are two godparents, they need to be a man and a woman so that the newly baptized will have a role model for each gender. Should the original sponsors later turn out not to be good role models in Catholic faith, the best solution is to find better role models and involve them more closely in the baptized person’s life. Under some circumstances, paperwork at the parish where a Baptism is registered can be changed. Doing that, however, will change little unless better role models have already been identified.

Answer 3

The Catholic Church recognizes any wet baptism, with the pronouncement of "in the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit" as valid (ie: the full immersion of the Baptist Church). Once baptized always baptized. Further anyone can baptize by church canon. It should be done by the highest authority possible. The godparents do not need to be Catholic (I stand corrected; see above). They must vow to teach the child of Catholicism however.

Catholicism is not a branch, sect, or denomination of Christianity. It is Christianity. The original Church. The mother ship. All others are sects, etc. And, by the teaching of the Church all peoples, to include non-Christians, belong to the Catholic faith (provided their spiritual expression is positive. Yes, Islam too.). Catholic means universal in the Greek.

Answer 4

Excuse me? You don't think that the Catholic woman is a Christian, too? She is!

It helps if the godparents are the same religion as the parents. That ensures that, should it be necessary, the godparents could lead the child in the ways of the religion.

Answer 5

If the child is Catholic, that would presuppose the child is already baptized. So why do it again?
Assuming the Catholic woman and the "christian" man are married to each other and the child is theirs, the Catholic woman is required to make every attempt to raise their child(ren) in the Catholic faith.
They must go to a Catholic priest and, with Catholic witnesses (two of them to be godparents), they can have the child baptized.

Answer 6

Ok first it shouldn't matter as long as they are being lead to christ.... However each religion has its own rules and regulations.... so here is the answer:

1. Yes they can, and I have had both of my children baptized in a catholic church and their father is not catholic.
2. Some Roman catholic churches stick to the "god parents must be catholic rule" but not all its best to check with the rectory at the church and see what they require.

Have a blessed day!

Answer 7

I was a Catholic at the time my daughter was baptized and my husband was an almost ex Jehovah's Witness. Her godmother was Protestant and godfather was Catholic. Only one godparent needs to be Catholic (an ACTIVE, paying parishoner that can be verified by the priest) but they all need to belong to a Christian religion.

Answer 8

While both parents don't have to be Catholic to have their babies bapized Catholic, the non Catholic parent has to promise to raise all children in the Catholic faith. And yes, the Godparents DO need to be Catholic.

Answer 9

i do not think a child should be baptized until he or she is old enough to understand right from wrong and is capable of making their own decision especially a very young child. Baptism is for the remission of sin.a baby does not know right from wrong I think a parent should ask his or her minister to say a prayer of dedication to God for the child asking Him to help them raise the child the right way and that the people they are entrusting as godparents into their childs life will be a very good influence in molding the future of their child.this is my belief


Serving God is not about religion its about your relationship and communication with Him.

Answer 10

In the case of emergency. yes
under normal circumstances no
The ordinary ministers of Baptism are the bishop and priest and, in the Latin Church, also the deacon. In case of necessity, anyone, even a non-baptized person, with the required intention, can baptize , by using the Trinitarian baptismal formula. The intention required is to will to do what the Church does when she baptizes. The Church finds the reason for this possibility in the universal saving will of God and the necessity of Baptism for salvation.

heres all you need to know
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a1.htm#1271