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Original poster

Catholic and CofE godparents/Christian witnesses

17 replies

LaForza101 · 12/05/2023 17:41

We are planning on having our baby boy baptised later in the year as a Catholic. Of our friends who we would like to ask to be godparents/christian witnesses, one is also a Catholic and the other three are CofE. Will this be allowed?

Will they need to provide proof of their own baptisms? I think this is going to be tricky for one of our friends to track down as they have sadly lost their parents and may struggle to find out the details of their ceremony.

It would be great to hear from anyone who organised a similar christening to see if this was an issue.

OP posts:
StaySpicy · 12/05/2023 18:10

It's my understanding (I'm CofE, not Catholic) that there are at most two sponsors for a child and they cannot be the same sex. One must be a baptised, practising Catholic over the age of 16. The other can be from another Christian denomination.

mynameiscalypso · 12/05/2023 18:13

I can only speak to godparents but we could only have practicing Catholics and they had to provide baptism certificate and a letter of support from their priest. Unsurprisingly, this narrowed the field quite considerably so we only have one, my SIL.

StaySpicy · 12/05/2023 18:14

Baptised and confirmed, I should have said.

Why don't you ask the priest what they allow and need? Surely if you go there anyway, you can just ask one Sunday?

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sussexman · 12/05/2023 18:16

Looks like it would be allowed but the Christian Witnesses would need proof of baptism/christening. I'd talk to the priest and see what he says - it might be that different parishes have different practices.

AliceMcK · 12/05/2023 18:21

It will depend on the priest, they tend to set the rules.

3 children baptised Catholic

#1 had 1 catholic godparent and 1 presbyterian godparent
#2 had 1 catholic godparent 1 atheist (I never told priest this) & 1 Methodist godparent
#3 had 3 catholic godparents

Usually these days as long as one god parent is catholic it’s fine, but again fully depends on the priest.

You don’t have to prove your catholic, as the parent you will fill out a form giving games and religion of the godparents, that’s all.

Justputitdown · 12/05/2023 19:27

AliceMcK · 12/05/2023 18:21

It will depend on the priest, they tend to set the rules.

3 children baptised Catholic

#1 had 1 catholic godparent and 1 presbyterian godparent
#2 had 1 catholic godparent 1 atheist (I never told priest this) & 1 Methodist godparent
#3 had 3 catholic godparents

Usually these days as long as one god parent is catholic it’s fine, but again fully depends on the priest.

You don’t have to prove your catholic, as the parent you will fill out a form giving games and religion of the godparents, that’s all.

This. The priest sets the rules and they can be draconian.

LooseFit · 12/05/2023 19:28

Our priest insisted on Godparents being confirmed Catholics and asked for baptism evidence!

Nigellasbestfriend · 12/05/2023 19:47

At our parish at least one god parent had to be a baptised Catholic and we had to produce their baptism certificate (or letter of confirmation from their parish priest that they had been baptised in the Catholic faith) as proof. Anyone else is not known as a godparent, they are sponsors.

lovemycar · 12/05/2023 19:54

Only one godparent needs to be a catholic but they do need to be confirmed and your priest may ask for proof. Others you choose only need to be in sympathy with your catholic views.

myhairisnotcurly · 12/05/2023 19:58

Must vary by area then. 30+ years ago our kids were baptised in Catholic church. Each had 5 godparents, only one was Catholic, a few were C of E, the rest paid up agnostics or atheists. Parish priest asked no questions, welcomed all. It was lovely. All godparents still big part of our adult children's lives.

AliceMcK · 12/05/2023 22:13

Justputitdown · 12/05/2023 19:27

This. The priest sets the rules and they can be draconian.

Show quote history

Mine were baptised in 2 different churches in different countries but both priests were very open and welcoming to non Catholic godparents. As I explained to one priest, it would be my Presbyterian friend who would ensure my DD had a catholic education and would teach Catholic values if anything happened to myself or DH (non catholic) as she’d respect my wishes. Out of the 5 catholic godparents only one is actually practicing and dosnt actively hate the religion. Obviously I couldn’t say this, but I was very limited in Catholic godparents options.

mynameiscalypso · 12/05/2023 22:17

Whereas at my DS' baptism, the Catholic priest refused to talk to my side of the family because they weren't Catholic. Given they made up half the congregation, it was very apparent. My DM ended up complaining to the diocese about it because it was so incredibly rude and unwelcoming.

AuditAngel · 12/05/2023 22:28

I was raised CofE and was Christian Witness for my Catholic nephew. I subsequently converted.

my 3 children, Catholics have 4 /4/5 “Godparents” each. The older two both have one who is C of E and the younger 2 have 1 and 2 who are Greek Orthodox

none were asked for proof

AuditAngel · 12/05/2023 22:29

And have been Godparent to 3 CofEs since converting!

Justputitdown · 13/05/2023 06:58

AliceMcK · 12/05/2023 22:13

Mine were baptised in 2 different churches in different countries but both priests were very open and welcoming to non Catholic godparents. As I explained to one priest, it would be my Presbyterian friend who would ensure my DD had a catholic education and would teach Catholic values if anything happened to myself or DH (non catholic) as she’d respect my wishes. Out of the 5 catholic godparents only one is actually practicing and dosnt actively hate the religion. Obviously I couldn’t say this, but I was very limited in Catholic godparents options.

Show quote history

Ours have been baptised at 2 different churches in London. Both have said a max of 2, both baptised and practising Catholic with proof of both. Limited our choices!

TallerThanAverage · 13/05/2023 07:20

When we had DS baptised neither godparent was baptised themselves, no one asked so we didn’t mention it.

wehavenotomatoes · 13/05/2023 16:07

You have two godparents. They can be same sex.(think if so should be same sex as child but not 100% on this). They have to be baptised and confirmed Catholic and might be asked for proof. They certainly need to be practising enough to stand up in Church and make the necessary commitments, so it couldn't be someone who went through the motions at school and no longer believes in God.
If someone isn't Catholic but is Christian they can be something else which I think is called a Christian Witness.

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