Who can be a godparent in the Catholic Church?

Roman Catholic Church A godparent must normally be an appropriate person, at least sixteen years of age, a confirmed Catholic who has received the Eucharist, not under any canonical penalty, and may not be the parent of the child.

Do both godparents have to be confirmed?

A Christian witness needs to be a baptized Christian. The godparent needs to be a Catholic at least 16 years old who has had the sacraments of baptism, reconciliation, holy communion, and confirmation . They can ‘t be the baby’s mother or father. The godparents must not be bound by canonical penalty.

Can someone who isn’t Catholic be a godparent?

The Code of Canon Law (basically, the laws that govern the Church) state that godparents must be Confirmed* Catholics . It’s simply not permitted for someone who is not a Confirmed Catholic . *If you’re not familiar, Confirmation is a a Sacrament of the Church that basically completes your initiation into the Church.

Can two females be godparents in a Catholic church?

873 There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each. In the case in the OP it may well have been a sponsor and a Christian witness. There is no requirement in Canon Law that the CW be of a different gender.

What do godparents pay for at a Catholic baptism?

Because the Godparent is the official Christening sponsor, the responsibility falls on them to pay for any expenses associated with the ceremony itself. This includes the white baptismal outfit, white towels, bottle of oil and the oil sheet, the witness pins, and the cross.

How many godparents can a Catholic child have?

Traditionally, Christian children have three godparents in total, though they can have as many as the parent wants. Girls usually have two godmothers and one godfather while boys have two godfathers and one godmother but there is no hard and fast rules nowadays.

What are the requirements for Catholic godparents?

A Godparent must be fully initiated in the Roman Catholic Church. This means they have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. 2. They must be at least 16 years old.

Can SIblings be godparents?

SIblings can be godparents but they must be at least 16. And some dioceses make the age even older, 18. The good news: Being a sibling makes no difference. So if God sends you a baby in 7 years or so, and your diocese goes with canon law and nothing stronger, then you have a godmother in your daughter at that time!

Can a unmarried couple be godparents?

This, there is no problem if they are not married, except if they are already living together. If that is the case, neither of them could be godparent / Christian witness.

Can Protestants be godparents to Catholic child?

To be a Godparent , one must be a confirmed, practicing Catholic . Any other baptized person (including Protestants ) may be a Christian witness. But a non- Catholic Christian witness cannot act as a representative of the Catholic Church, which is what a sponsor does at the time of the baptism.

Can a baby be baptized Catholic If the parents are not married?

There are priests who will baptize the children of unmarried couples, as long as there seems to be a sincere effort to raise the child in the Catholic faith. But if they are working on overcoming the issues that are preventing them from getting married , then the priest would consider baptizing their child .

What do godparents have to say at a Catholic christening?

In infant Baptism , the immediate family gathers around the baptismal font (see the figure), and the child is held over the basin while the priest or deacon pours water three times over the child’s head and says his first and middle name, and then, “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy