How do I baptize my child in the catholic church if I only trust my friends who are non catholics?

Question

I think it's the parents' discretion to decide whom they trust with their child. I also dont want them to attend the required seminar. They will be flying in from far off places. Is there a way around this and is there a roman catholic church in the bay area who will not require this? please help me.

Answer 1

Being a godparent is not the same thing as being a guardian, though sometimes they are the one and same person.

Get a will. List somebody you trust as guardian to your kids. That'll take care of that.

For godparent(s), pick at least one person you know who really is a committed Catholic and will help support the kids in learning about the Catholic faith. If you don't know anybody like that, ask your priest to suggest somebody in the parish who won't be flying in and can take the classes.

The Church is always going to require Catholic parents to choose at least one Catholic godparent for a child's baptism because baptism is a SACRAMENT. It's not a legal obligation to be the kids' guardian if you die. It's only about raising a child in the Catholic faith.

Answer 2

You said:
"..I think it's the parents' discretion to decide whom they trust with their child...."
I think you are confusing sponsorship with guardianship.
A parent has every right to decide who will care for their child's physical and educational needs in their place.
But it is the church that calls the shots when it comes to an infant or child's religious sponsors.
Certainly the parents may select their child's sponsor(s), but they must do so according to Canon laws if they want their child baptised in the Catholic church.
.
I'm guessing from what you have said that you are not a practicing Catholic.... that is: you are not a registered & attending member of a Catholic church in your area.
If you were...you would have already asked your parish priest these questions.
.
If you are not a practicing Catholic and your "sponsers of choice" are not Catholic, will not live near your child and you want them to be able to skip the "seminar"... I don't think you have much chance of getting your child baptized in a Catholic church. The Catholic church takes baptism very seriously and you are not likely to find a Catholic church willing to break Canon laws.
...
Canon 851 The celebration of baptism should be properly prepared. Accordingly: the parents of a child who is to be baptised, and those who are to undertake the office of sponsers, are to be suitably instructed on the meaning of this sacrament and the obligations attaching to it. The parish priest is to see to it that either he or others duly prepare the parents, by means of pastoral advice and indeed by prayer together; a number of families might be brought together for this purpose and, where possible, each family visited.

Can. 856 Though baptism may be celebrated on any day, it is recommended that normally it be celebrated on a Sunday or, if possible, on the vigil of Easter.
.
[NOTE: Many churches today (due to the priest shortage) only perform group baptisms now. For non-infants & adults this might only take place once a year around Easter. Infant baptisms take place more often but are usually group baptisms as well in larger parishes. ]

Can. 857 §2 As a rule and unless a just reason suggests otherwise, an adult is to be baptised in his or her proper parish church, and an infant in the proper parish church of the parents.

Can. 867 §1 Parents are obliged to see that their infants are baptised within the first few weeks. As soon as possible after the birth, indeed even before it, they are to approach the parish priest to ask for the sacrament for their child, and to be themselves duly prepared for it.

Can. 868 §1 For an infant to be baptised lawfully it is required:

2° that there be a well-founded hope that the child will be brought up in the catholic religion. If such hope is truly lacking, the baptism is, in accordance with the provisions of particular law, to be deferred and the parents advised of the reason for this.

Can. 872 In so far as possible, a person being baptised is to be assigned a sponsor. In the case of an adult baptism, the sponsor’s role is to assist the person in christian initiation. In the case of an infant baptism, the role is together with the parents to present the child for baptism, and to help it to live a christian life befitting the baptised and faithfully to fulfil the duties inherent in baptism.

Can. 873 One sponsor, male or female, is sufficient; but there may be two, one of each sex.

Can. 874 §1 To be admitted to undertake the office of sponsor, a person must:

1° be appointed by the candidate for baptism, or by the parents or whoever stands in their place, or failing these, by the parish priest or the minister; to be appointed the person must be suitable for this role and have the intention of fulfilling it;

2° be not less than sixteen years of age, unless a different age has been stipulated by the diocesan Bishop, or unless the parish priest or the minister considers that there is a just reason for an exception to be made;

3° be a catholic who has been confirmed and has received the blessed Eucharist, and who lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken;

I found this in a pamplet I saved from one of my grandchildren's baptism.
"...In this view of these Canons, it can be rightly held that the parents should be at least some what active in their faith and that they promise to raise the child in the practice of the faith by actually practicing it themselves. And if they are not going to Church, some other family member takes the child to Church each and every Sunday and provides the catechesis that the child should be receiving from his or her parents...."

Answer 3

I grew up Protestant, married a Catholic, and converted to Catholicism. i could no longer attend maximum non-denominational church homes. there is this variety of extensive distinction. My mom exchange into unhappy approximately me getting married in a Catholic church, yet i exchange into in college on the time. you particularly are on the very verge of being autonomous. at last, you will could bypass to the church it somewhat is acceptable for you. Btw, maximum Catholic church homes have mass around 5:00 PM on Saturday. you should be waiting to attend that along with your boyfriend earlier a date. My husband and that i in many situations bypass to the Saturday provider and then to a action picture or dinner.

Answer 4

Why does it have to be a Catholic godparent? My siblings have non-catholic godparents and we're Baptized into the Catholic Faith.