83 Throckmorton Lane
Old Bridge NJ 08857
Parish Office (732) 679-5666
Role of the Godparent
-
The role of the “godparent for baptism” originated in the early Church. Until the year 313, the Church was under the persecution of the Roman Empire and had to be cautious in conducting its affairs so as to prevent pagan infiltration and persecution. Also, until the Middle Ages, the Sacraments of Initiation (baptism, holy Eucharist, and confirmation) were administered at once. The role of the godparent/sponsor, then, was to attest to the integrity of the person seeking admission into the Church, as well as to assist during the preparation for these sacraments and living a Christian life. For infants, these sponsors would also make the Profession of Faith in the child’s name and accepted the responsibility of instructing the child in the faith, especially if the parents failed in this duty. About the year 800, when infant baptism was truly the norm, these sponsors were called “patrinus”, or “godfather”. Traditionally, we identify the sponsor of a child for baptism as godparent – godmother or godfather, but the technical term remains “sponsor”, and the inherent responsibility continues for that designated person to lead a good Christian life, in line with the teachings of the Church.
To be a sponsor/"Godparent" for Confirmation or Baptism,
a person must meet the proper qualifications outlined
in the Code of Canon Law:- The sponsor must be designated by the person to be baptized, or, in the case of an infant, by the parents or the person who takes their place. In the absence of a parent or guardian, the person must be designated by the pastor or minister and have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling the function of baptismal sponsor. A sponsor may not be the mother or father of the person to be baptized. One Catholic sponsor, male or female, is sufficient but there may be two, one of each gender. No one can have more than two godparents for one child, nor can anyone have two godparents of the same gender. (note: there is only one sponsor for Confirmation).
- The sponsor must have completed his/her sixteenth year, unless the Bishop has established another age for sponsorship, or the pastor or minister judges that a just cause warrants an exception to the rule. N.B. The Most Reverend Vincent DePaul Breen, Bishop Emeritus of Metuchen, decreed on April 30, 1999 that the minimum age for fully-initiated Catholics to be eligible to undertake the role of baptismal sponsor shall be 14 in the Diocese of Metuchen. The sponsor must have received the sacraments of baptism, holy Eucharist, and confirmation, and be a fully initiated Catholic who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function of sponsor, not bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared.
- The sponsor must provide a “sponsorship certificate” from the parish where he/she is currently registered as an active member, regularly attending Mass, which verifies that the proposed sponsor meets the requirements of canon law. If married, the sponsor must be in a valid Catholic marriage, recognized by the Church. (If the person you are considering as a sponsor is not married according to the laws and practices of the Catholic Church, or is cohabitating - living together without marriage-, you will need to consider someone else.).
- While not explicitly stated in the canons of the Latin code, a baptized member of a separated Eastern church (Orthodox church) may act as a baptismal sponsor, but only in conjunction with a Catholic sponsor. Clearly the duty of looking out for the Christian upbringing of the newly baptized/confirmed falls first upon the sponsor belonging to the Catholic Church.
Christian Witness at Baptism
While it is ideal that the parents select two Catholic sponsors/godparents, the Church only requires one. A baptized non-Catholic may serve as a “witness” to the ceremony, as long as a Catholic sponsor/godparent is present. The non-Catholic Christian Witness should be an active and participating member of his/her Christian community and able to represent and attest to the beliefs of the Catholic Church, the community of faith into which the child is to be baptized. The reason for this distinction and restriction is that the sponsor/godparent not only is taking responsibility for the religious education and spiritual formation of the baptized person, but also is representing the Church and the community of faith. A Christian who is not Catholic, although perhaps a very holy Christian, cannot fully attest to the beliefs of the Catholic Church. Christian Witnesses must also produce a “sponsorship certificate” from their respective church, where they are currently registered as an active member of that community of Christian Faith. A baptized Roman Catholic person who has left the Catholic Church by a formal act, such a joining another Christian religion, is not qualified to undertake the role of a baptismal sponsor. To clarify, persons who have formally left the Catholic Church, and are therefore, exempt from certain canonical obligations (i.e. canonical form for marriage), are still a Catholic in the law (c.11) and may not, therefore, act in the capacity of a Christian Witness. If a Christian Witness acts together with a Catholic sponsor at a baptism, and his/her name is recorded in the baptismal register, a notation must be made that this person acted as a “Christian Witness, lest there by an confusion. As regards the baptismal certificate provided to the parents on the day of baptism, there exists no normal procedure, whether mandatory or prohibitive, that the name of the Christian Witness be noted on the certificate. The inclusion of the name of the Christian Witness on the baptismal certificate is for pastoral discretion.