Questions on choosing godparents

Ellen - posted on 02/15/2010

When I was meeting with our Faith Formation director, she told me that both "Godparents" had to be Catholic, with at least one practicing, then if we chose we could have 2 additional "Sponcers" who are non Catholic.

DeeDee - posted on 01/18/2010

Godparents are for those being baptized. It is a similar role to that of Confirmation sponsor. According to the Catholic Education Resource Center website:



The sponsor must have completed his 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. He must be a Catholic who has received the sacraments of holy Eucharist and confirmation, and "leads a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken." Moreover, the sponsor cannot be impeded by some canonical penalty. Ideally, this sponsor at baptism should also be the sponsor for confirmation. Note that the mother and father of the child cannot serve as sponsors. Also note that these are the same requirements for confirmation sponsors. (Cf. Code of Canon Law, No. 874.1).



Personally I have 8 children. Our oldest son has 2 godparents. We chose 2 unmarried Catholic friends to be his Godparents. He now has a connection with 2 families for his Godparents.

Same for our second oldest son and our oldest daughter. 2 unmarried Catholic friends. We chose these people because we felt it would keep them in our lives being Godparents. For our next son we chose a married Catholic couple. For our next daughter, 2 unmarried Catholic friends. For our next son we chose a Catholic friend and her own son to be his Godparents. (Yeah, we have a lot of Catholic friends) For our next two daughters we chose 2 married Catholic couples.

Nicola - posted on 01/17/2010

As long as one GodParent if Catholic and over 16 - any others can be what you want. My first child has my brother who is catholic and my husbands cousin who is not! and was only 15 at the time. my other two children also have one set of Catholic godparents and one set of non-catholic (just because they are not catholic would not mean that they will not assist in their godchilds faith) All the godparents and my husband, who although was baptized catholic has never practiced support me in bringing my children up in the catholic faith.

Catherine - posted on 01/15/2010

I am finding the adamance here interesting... the age, the gender the number...
The qualifications as I was told by the pastor of my church were simply: ONE must be a confirmed and practicing Catholic... beyond that, you may have anyone you feel would influence your child in a healthy Christian manner. I was also given the impression I could have as few as one, as many as FOUR Godparents, if I so chose - ANY GENDER.
It was MY choice to have 2 godparents & to have one male / one female. It was my choice to have both godparents Catholic, even if they were not a married couple. My brother is godfather, his wife is not godmother - she is not Catholic. My cousin is godfather, his wife is not godmother - she is not Catholic. The godmothers are unmarried women (presently), both Catholic.
Don't check online - ask the priest who will be performing the christening for you!!

Stefanie - posted on 12/04/2009

This info was very helpuful to me as well! I have been wondering the same things!

Kathleen - posted on 10/13/2009

Quoting Maria:

Yes, they have to be 18 yo or older, according to the Catholic church, for the responsibilities that they will have to undertake as second parents (thus godparents) when something unfortunate happens to the biological parents of the children, I was told. The number of people is up to you. They have to be a pair, male and female to be "parents".

Godparents no longer get your children should something happen to you. That you set up in your will or your parents would get them or the next closest living relative. They stoped this practice because most parents chose different people to be Godparents for each of their children and they didn't want the kids to be place with different people shoud something happen.

They do need to be at least 16 and must be confirmed. You do not need two Godparents but if you do they need to be one man and one woman, you can not have two men or two women. I needed to check with the Catechim. You can search for it online.

Angie - posted on 10/08/2009

According to The Catechims of the Catholic Church anyone who is over 16 and received the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation can become a Godparent - if they understand the responsibilities of being a Godparent. It is not necessary for there to be two Godparents but if two are chosen one must be male and one female. There may be a maximum of 2 Godparents. The Godparents must be active in the church - and by active they mean they must attend weekly Mass and have gone to confession according to the teachings of the church.

Maria - posted on 10/08/2009

Yes, they have to be 18 yo or older, according to the Catholic church, for the responsibilities that they will have to undertake as second parents (thus godparents) when something unfortunate happens to the biological parents of the children, I was told. The number of people is up to you. They have to be a pair, male and female to be "parents".

Amber - posted on 10/08/2009

Im not sure about the age, I think they just need to be confirmed. The Godparents do have to be 2 ppl, one man and one woman. That is why they are called "parents." Both also have to be practicing Catholics.