Catholic Christening and God Parents- how many?

[katescarlett]

I want to start planning DS christening, how many God Parents is normal, and do they have to be Catholic? My fiancé wants his sister to be godparent, but she isn’t catholic. I think he’d rather not a Catholic christening if she isn’t allowed to be GP, but a Catholic christening means a lot to me.
Thanks

[Coconutspongexo]

Yes they have to be Catholic, normally churches prefer only one of each but some allow two.

[Crumbs1]

Usually two of same gender and one of opposite but it’s not fixed. There should be at least one Catholic godparent but the local priest might ask for more. One of our children has a Muslim godfather who was happy to make the Catholic vows to support the child in the faith.

[EchidnasPhone]

My children were baptised and have one catholic godparent & one Christian godparent. Speak to your priest & see how they feel about it. The main & most important part is the baptism over the godparents.

[katienana]

Ours didn't ask. Usually all the godparents need to be baptized. We had 4 godparents for each of our boys - my sister, her husband, dhs sister, his best friend, my brother, his wife, dh other sister and another friend of dh have all been chosen for the honour.

[bridgetjones1]

I married my DH in a catholic church, he is catholic and I am not. That wasn't a problem. I'm also godmother to my DNiece, who is catholic and I am not, that too wasn't a problem.

I think anymore than 4 is a bit tacky, DH and I were the only godparents to our Niece and it felt very special that way rather than several.

A lot of catholic churches now are a lot more relaxed.

[Itsokaytobeshy]

Our church said that at least one had to be catholic but they allowed us to ask other non Catholics as well. Traditionally you have one Godfather and one Godmother but our DC each have 3 Godparents - 2 non Catholics and one Catholic. Church was ok with that.

[DramaAlpaca]

I've only known it be two godparents, one male and one female, and both have to be baptised Catholics.

Our local church wouldn't allow me to be godmother to DH's niece as I'm not Catholic.

I'm now known as niece's Fairy Godmother instead

[bridgetjones1]

DramaAlpaca - if I was your DH family I'd have been looking for an alternative church! How mean to not allow you to be godmother x

[pestov]

Totally depends on the church. For my DD they just took our word that both Godparents were Catholic and we did prep classes without them. For my GodSon I had to get my local church to sign paperwork proving I was known to them and he needed at least 1, preferably 2 saints names. Go book a chat with your parish secretary- they’ll set you on the right path without wasting the priest’s time

[Coconutspongexo]

It's not mean really Bridget it's because technically Godparents are meant to lead the child in their faith.

Not that this really applies in this day and age but still.

It's not as easy as finding another church is it? My church you have to live in the area and have to have a link to the church.

[pestov]

Bridget- given the point of baptism is to begin a child’s life in faith, it makes a lot of sense to limit who can do this to people of the same faith. I wouldn’t have the first clue how to explain the significance of festivals from other religious beyond a quick google. You can nominate supporters in addition to Godparents if adults feel they need the validation

[petitdonkey]

It obviously varies from Priest to priest so call in and have a chat. I have three children who all have three godparents-
DS - two catholic one anglican
DD- one catholic, two anglican
DD - two catholic, one anglican - they were my nieces who were on 12 and 13 at the time which he was unsure of but I argued that they would always be a part of her life and he agreed.

[TisMeTheLadFromTheBar]

In our Church, it is one Godfather and One Godmother per child. Both parents and Godparents have to promise to bring the child up in the Catholic Faith and reconfirm their baptismal rites. It depends on the Parish, Church and the Priest.