Godparents

[4getmenot]

Well further to my past posts, I was officially asked to be godmother today. My mate knows my view on christianity but I Kindly accepted and said I was very happy to have been asked. I sill feel a bit of a hypocrite though as I am not relgious at all, but am very honoured she asked me.

[craft1948]

another discussion.....er vibra it's a godmother.....you know...to do with god....

[Sqad]

4get, don't worry...I have been asked thrice but have refused.

Mrs sqad takes it seriously and sends money on their birthday, but I put a stop to that after the "thank you" letters stopped arriving.

[4getmenot]

Yer but you'd rather have babies with me :-) I know. lol. Yes I said I will be there for the baby plus the mum isnt religious but wanted to have godparents. My first godchild :-)

[4getmenot]

I just couldnt say no to her, the fact that we havent been mates that long but she sees how I am with her other children just made me feel really good to be asked. I did try and suggest a baby naming ceremony so she could still have guardians but the other 2 children are christened so she didnt want to change that

[steg]

hi 4getmenot,
I am Godfather to a friends daughter. To me and them it means that if anything should happen to them (death etc) i would do every thing in my power to make sure she was well looked after, either by me and/or by some one that i think would do better ie like other members of her family. But being Godfather it would be my choise and if need be i would give up every thing to make sure she was ok

[4getmenot]

steg thats exactly what I would do for my godchild. Vibra a baby naming would be just the same as you'd explained just not religious. To me getting a bay christened is putting a religion on someones head that has no choice. Would people go and make their child a buda or a hindu if they wernt one themselves. But I am trying to look t it more your way to be there for the baby

[Sqad]

vibra....I agree.

steg....if anything happened to any of my close friends etc, I would not need to be a godfather to make sure that they were looked after.

Can't see the point......myself that is.

[steg]

thats the way i see it to squad i would look after any friends kids, but being Godparent it is your call on what happens, no one elses like if it were your own child

[ummmm]

I agree with Steg. I've always took on the role with the thought that if anything happened to the parents then I would do my very best to make sure the child was raised as best as possible.

I have an 18 year old godson so he's not in the equation anymore. I also have a 3 year old God daughter to a single parent...so my job as I see it is to help her in any practicle way I can. I texted her today to say we'd have her for the weekend....all parents need a break, especially single ones.

[ethandron]

as i understand it, being a godparent has absolutely no legal standing whatsoever in the event of the child needing to be cared for. it's purely a religeous/moral/friendly thing to ask of someone. i don't believe in god, didn't get married in church, haven't had any of my children christened but have 5 godchildren, 3 of whome i rarely see. i would have no say, and would want to have, in what would happen to them in the event of them being orphaned or something, that's for their next of kin to sort out.

[ethandron]

whoops - wouldn't want to have

[craft1948]

I think it's a great honour to be a childs guardian or mentor and from what 4get has previously posted no doubt she would be very good. To be a godparent you are expected to make certain vows, the most common of which is...
Will you pray for them (the children), draw them by your example into the community of faith and walk with the in the way of Christ?
With the help of God we will.

Will you care for them (the children) and help them take their place within the life and worship of Christ's Church?
With the help of God we will.
So as long as you feel comfortable making those vows.......good luck.

[4getmenot]

see thats where it puts me off craft as I am not religious. Although sometimes I pray, to who I dont know. lol

[craft1948]

4get we discussed with people about our daughters upbringing and we had 3 couples, who after lengthy discussion, all agreed to look after her if anything should happen to us (2 of these couples were family). We then had this included in our will as obviously finances came into the equation.

[steg]

under Scottish law a verbal contract (onerous contract)is binding if there is wittinesses

[joggerjayne]

Requirements of a godparent ...

... pay the school fees

... remember the birthdays

JJ x

[caththecrazy]

I have 2 god children and I take it very seriously. I expect to be a replacement mum to them should anything happen to their parents and I hope to be there for them as they grow up.

I don't understand why people have their children christened orwho get married in a church if they don't believe in God - what is the point? and how many people tell the priest they don't believe? Our priest would marry anyone who told him that and would need to be persuaded to christen children from a non believer.

In the catholic church today you have to attend parenting classes before your child can be christened.

[Sqad]

Cath....Catholicism is a belief..........not everyone are Catholic.

Atheism is a belief.....not everyone are Atheists.

Unfortunate children of broken marriages for any number of reasons would be looked after exactly the same whether godparents or not. The end result would be the same either way and the end justifies the means, the labels are just a measure of semantics.