What are the requirements of being a godparent?

Question

I've got the breathing, pulse and my own Christening taken care of, thanks for your concern.

Answer 1

"Traditionally, the godparents were counted informally responsible for ensuring that the child's religious education was carried out, and for caring for the child should he/she be orphaned. Today the latter duty is the most commonly recognized duty of a godparent, and the word "godparent" often no longer has religious overtones. The modern definition of godparent is an individual chosen by the parents to take a vested interest in raising a more complete human being. However, godparent is not a legal position, and should the parents seriously intend the godparents to act as foster parents in case of their death, this must be legally specified through the usual means (such as a will)."


Everyone seems to choose to have a godparent these days even if they aren't religious, which is odd because it did begin as a Christian thing. I guess the true requirements is choosing someone who is kind, reliable, trustworthy and will teach something useful to the child. It could be a special position for a good friend I suppose although I wouldn't take is seriously as someone who could take guardianship of my child if anything happened to me - there would be dad, my mum, grandma, aunties...lots of family who would come first as supposed guardians.

Answer 2

the assumption in the back of a godparent is that that's the guy who sponsors the youngster into the catholic church. There are different precepts with god parent accountability, if the mother and father die or are actually unable to function, however the time-honored one is to take the oath of perception for the youngster, and the youngster is meant to make particular the vow whilst they attain the age of reason. So, even though it in many situations takes place that godparents are actually not catholic, it is not a strictly valid sponsoring.

Answer 3

I was asked to perform this role. I found there are two sets of responsibilities depending on the wishes on the parents

If the parents are Christians and there is a church christening then depending on the wishes of the parents the role is normally understood to be one of providing spiritual and moral guidance to the child, and to support the parents in bringing up the child in line with the teachings of the Church. In times gone by when life expectancy was short the role encompassed guardianship of the child in the event of the parents' death, but this is seldom if ever practiced today and is really just a historical point.

If the parents are not Christians the role is more losely defined. Generally you help the parents enjoy the christening day itself and afterwards give general support as the child growns up, remember the kid's birthday any at Christmas, do little things to help out if they want it and so on.

My godson is an Australian and as he grows up when I go there I will take him playing cricket, to the footy and so on and when he comes to UK in later life as a young man keep a general eye on him, get him out of the inevitable scrapes and so on!

That's about the top and bottom of it I think.

Answer 4

Si73 - if parents are not Christians then they shouldn't be having their child baptized. The baptism services requires them to state their beliefs as Christians and to make promises, along with the Godparents, on behalf of the child.

The main duties of a Godparent are to ensure that the child is brought up in the Christian faith and to bring the child to Confirmation where they would stand as their Godchild's sponsors.

Answer 5

As a Godparent you are supposed to be the person that the child's parent 's trust the most with their child if something happens to them. Your job is to care for them in the way the parents would have done. You are obligating yourself to helping to raise the child or perhaps even raising the child..financially and emotionally...

Answer 6

When choosing the godparents for my (yet unborn) child, we looked for the following quailitys in people- Someone who is trustworthy and honest. Someone who cares about others and treats them right. Someone who would put a child's needs before thier own. Someone who we know we'll be in contact with for years and years to come. Someone who will love the child as thier own, yet not forget that we are the parents, and would be sure to tell the child anything that it would want to know about us.Someone who has their life in order. Basicly, someone who is an all around great person, that we know would be as good of a parent as we would be.

Answer 7

if done properly. basicly you are will to change your life and take on the child/children if anything happens to the parents.Unlike being a parent you can not plan for this. some people can take this lightly. hopefully not , but some day your life can be turned upside down. you have to be willing to do this.. remember only if this is done all legally with the papers to prove the you are the godparents.

Answer 8

From what I heard, you kinda oversea the child when growing up, and if the parents are unable to look after the child (death being one reason) the responsibility is left to the godparents

Answer 9

You're supposed to be Christianed, but no-one checks up on it (my godson has a Jewish godfather).
Your duties are to support the child's parents in raising the child and to help with the child's spiritual and moral guidance.

Answer 10

to be one..you are supposed to be christened in a church...they dont check it out though...so if you really want to be one and you arent christened.....you can lie .. i did.

also, a godparent looks out for the well being of the child when called upon in times of need.