What are the requirments if any to be a god parent? Do you actually need to be a practicing Catholic or is it good as long as you have been baptized yourself?
I am a Catholic but not a practicing.
2007-07-27 15:51:48 · 8 answers · asked by Vintage Glamour 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The only person who can answer this question is the priest who is conducting the baptism. They all have a different take on the interpretation of the rules. Also, some of them are open to monetary persuasion and some will do it if they're close to the parents of the baby.
2007-07-27 15:54:54 · answer #1 · answered by maigen_obx 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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.
For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 1255: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2.htm
and the Code of Canon law, Canon 872 and following: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2Y.HTM
With love in Christ.
2007-07-27 23:20:51 · answer #2 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Each candidate for baptism must have one godparent who is a practicing Catholic. The parish is supposed to request a letter of recommendation from the godparent's priest for this.
So, if you were asked to be a godparent for somebody and that person had a second godparent who is a practicing Catholic, you could still be a godparent. If there is no other godparent, or if the other godparent is not a practicing Catholic, then the Church would say you were obliged to decline the honor...though since you are not practicing, you might not care to follow that instruction.
2007-07-27 23:13:13 · answer #3 · answered by sparki777 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You must be catholic, and must agree to continue educating the child in the Catholic faith if something were to happen to the parents...and this would mean that you would need to be a practicing Catholic. Having said that though, there is no background check to see if you've been attending church, so...it's up to your own conscious to a certain extent.
2007-07-27 22:58:30 · answer #4 · answered by . 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to be "a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist and who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on" (Code of Canon Law, can. 874.1.3).
When I was received into the Church, my sponsor (who belonged to another parish) had to obtain a letter from his pastor stating that he was a practicing Catholic in good standing.
2007-07-27 23:09:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Parents are to be Catholic, baptismal certificate is adequate, (the church where you were baptised should have on file if you do not have) you don't need to be attending usually. God Parents do not have to be Catholic.
2007-07-27 22:55:31 · answer #6 · answered by Gardener for God(dmd) 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If a person is in Christ God is his Father. So God is the only true "God Father"
2007-07-27 22:56:32 · answer #7 · answered by George 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
your fine but i dont think yoou can become a god parent..
2007-07-27 22:54:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋