Does a Godfather has to be confirmed?? RC?

[NiallsMama]

Hey Iv'e never posted in this section before (I don't think!) was just wondering if anyone can shed some light for me.....
My Daughter is to christened into the Roman Catholic church soon and I would love my Nephew (12) to be godfather. Does it matter he's not yet confirmed? A few people are arguing the case and I have no idea really.
The preist is on his after chrimbo sebbattical so have no way of checking before I ask my nephew!!
TIA

[joggerjayne]

Your nephew?

When your daughter starts Prep School, your nephew will only be 15/16.

How will he pay your daughter's school fees at that age?

[NiallsMama]

He's not the only Godparent, I have my sister and brother too.....I just thought it would be a lovely gesture and nice for my daughter to have a younger godparent......

[joggerjayne]

Aah, okay.

He doesn't have to be confirmed, but he does have to be baptised.

[NiallsMama]

I thought as much.....Thanks for your points! :)

[Mr Veritas]

Going by this entry from Wikipedia,your nephew would fail on two counts.
He has to be at least 16 years of age,and he has to be confirmed (which presumably someone of 16 would be).
Here is the actual piece from Wikipedia:~

The Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic institution of godparenthood survived the Reformation largely unchanged. A godparent must normally be an appropriate person, at least sixteen years of age, a confirmed Catholic who has received Eucharist, not under any canonical penalty, and may not be the parent of the child. Someone who belongs to another Christian church cannot become a godparent but can be a 'witness' in conjunction with a Catholic sponsor. A witness does not have any religious role recognized by the Church

[tamborine]

I dont think a child can be godparent.

[honky-tonk]

You can have as many godparents as you so wish, as long as one of them has been confirmed. As with my three children who have been baptised, only one godparent was RC and confirmed the others were church of england.

[trt]

I cant see the point in Godparents as most would not be able to afford to look after the children if something happened to their parents.

It just sounds nice but has no effect.

[NiallsMama]

I agree it does sound nice to have my nephew as Godparent, in the future as well as the present. Will have to look more closely into the age thing though.....

As for Godparents having to be Catholic, for my son two of the four Godparents were CofE, so I don't think that will be a factor with my preist !!

[Mr Veritas]

I agree that looking at my previous answer, that your nephew's (young) age will probably be the biggest problem (more than not being confirmed etc)
Shame though,it's a nice thought.

[Ankou]

found this on a catholic website

like the church of england, the requirements are laid down by church law. god-parents must meet 5 stipulations: they must be 16 or over, a roman catholic who has both received holy communion and been confirmed, be free of church penalties and have been appointed by the parents but not be the biological parent of the child.

witnesses
non-catholic christians may participate in catholic rites of baptism but they cannot offer the guarantees required of the true godparent. these people are called "witnesses".

[China Doll]

I'm a god-mother. I'm raised RC but I'm actually an athiest and I never made my confirmation. I think it depends on how much notice the priest pays. I just had to go to a class (perhaps two, I can't remember).

I don't mind teaching my godson about religion but I think it's up to him to make his own mind up. And I can even look after him should the need arise. But he's not going to private school unless he gets a scholarship!

[spudqueen]

I'm godmother to my friends daughter, who was christened in a Catholic Church. I was brought up in the Congregational Church, but had long ceased to attend any Church by the time I became a godmother. I was baptised, but certainly not confirmed. As I recall special permission had to be sought for me to be godmother, but it was granted. I did (and still do) take my role seriously, and attended my goddaughters first holy communion, and I also took her to (a Roman Catholic) Church on occasion on a Sunday. She's now married with a child of her own, but we are still really close, and I think part of that was my willingness to support her in her own faith, though whether she really appreciated me dragging her to Church on a Sunday morning, when she was about 10 years old, when our families were on holiday together or not I can't really say!

[puzzfuzz]

you can have up to ten God parents (not that you would have that many as it is riduculous). The God parents can also be protestant but at least one of the God parent/s does have to be catholic and confirmed and over the age of 16. Have a word with your priest as he may make an exception you never know.

[NiallsMama]

Thanks for all your answer's, talk to the priest it is then!!

[VHG]

I am surprised anybody still wants anything to do with the Catholic church

http://www.dailymail....edophile-priests.html

[MarkRae]

Or any religion, especially Christianity...

[tamborine]

VHG....re your article - similar dispicable acts are committed globally within all occupations & professions. Its unfair to tar all priests with sins of the few; at least RCs have brought their 'faulty servants' to the fore. Less than 1% of priests would fit the articles' category.