Rachel Evans
Godparents are a common feature of several Christian denominations, including Catholicism, Anglicanism, and various Reformed traditions. However, the specific requirements and roles of godparents differ between these traditions. In Catholicism, for instance, godparents must be confirmed and practising Catholics who have received the Eucharist, and their role is to guide their godchildren towards holiness and help them attain heaven. In contrast, the Reformed tradition, which includes Presbyterian Churches, tends to refer to godparents as sponsors, who stand with the child during baptism and pledge to instruct them in the faith. This diversity in the role and requirements of godparents across different Christian denominations raises the question of whether non-Catholics can serve as godparents in Catholic baptisms, and what alternatives are available for including non-Catholic family and friends in the ritual.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of godparents | There is no fixed number, but the norm is to have two, one male and one female |
| Religion | Godparents must be practising Catholics |
| Age | Godparents must be 16 or older |
| Other requirements | Godparents must have received the Sacrament of the Eucharist, be confirmed Catholics, and be in good standing with the Church |
| Role | Godparents are spiritual mentors and role models who guide their godchildren towards holiness and help them attain heaven |
| Responsibilities | Godparents are expected to remember their godchild's sacramental anniversaries, encourage devotion to a patron saint, and discuss spiritual matters with their godchild as they mature |
| Transgender Catholics | The Catholic Church initially prohibited transgender Catholics from becoming godparents but reversed this decision in 2023, with some conditions |
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What You'll Learn
Godparents in other Christian denominations
Godparents are not just a Catholic tradition. Many other Christian denominations also have godparents, including Lutheran, Anglican, and some Calvinist churches.
In the early church, one sponsor seems to have been the norm, but in the early Middle Ages, there seem to have been two, one of each sex. This practice has been largely maintained in Orthodox Christianity. In the Reformed tradition, which includes the Continental Reformed, Congregationalist, and Presbyterian Churches, godparents are more often referred to as sponsors. They stand with the child during infant baptism and pledge to instruct the child in the faith.
The role of godparents in Protestant denominations differs from that in Catholicism. Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin preserved infant baptism and the role of godparents in their respective Protestant denominations, but with some differences. Luther opposed the prohibition of marriage between godparents and children, while Zwingli placed more emphasis on the role of parents and pastors. Calvin preferred the birth parents to serve as sponsors, and among French Calvinists and the residents of Geneva, it became the norm to have just one godparent. Other Calvinists, particularly in Scotland and the English colonies in America, did away with godparents entirely.
In the United Methodist Church, infants are baptised but godparents are not usually named. Instead, the entire congregation pledges to help raise the child in the faith. However, the role of godparents is not limited to any one denomination, and many Christian parents organically seek out others to serve similar functions.
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The number of godparents
In the Reformed tradition, which includes the Continental Reformed, Congregationalist, and Presbyterian Churches, the godparents are referred to as sponsors, who stand with the child during infant baptism and pledge to instruct the child in the faith. John Calvin, the progenitor of the Reformed tradition, served as a godparent during forty-seven baptisms, and it became the norm to have one godparent among French Calvinists and the residents of Geneva. Other Calvinists, particularly in Scotland and the English colonies in America, did away with godparents entirely.
In the Catholic Church, the number of godparents can vary as well. The Council of Trent attempted to limit the number of godparents to one or two, but this has not always been strictly enforced, with some people having up to four godparents in the case of twins. The requirement for Catholic godparents is that at least one of them must be Catholic, and they should be individuals who can serve as Christian role models and abide by the teachings of the Catholic Church.
In the Church of England, the Synod of Worcester in 1240 stipulated that there should be three sponsors, two of the same sex and one of the opposite sex, and this has remained the norm.
While the number of godparents can vary, their role remains consistent across denominations. Godparents or sponsors are individuals who bear witness to a child's baptism and later help in their spiritual formation, offering mentorship and guidance in keeping with the teachings of their faith.
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The role of godparents
Godparents are an important part of a child's life, providing mentorship and guidance. They are chosen by the parents or guardians and are responsible for bearing witness to a child's baptism and later helping in their spiritual formation and development. In the Catholic Church, godparents must be active members who have received the sacraments of confirmation and communion. They should also be at least 16 years old.
The role of a godparent is to assist the child in their Christian initiation and help them live a Christian life. This includes instructing the child in the faith and guiding them to understand and fulfil their religious responsibilities. Godparents are expected to pray for their godchild and show them how to make good choices in life. They are also there to provide love and support to the child and their family.
Within the Catholic Church, there are differing opinions on whether godparents must be Catholic. Some assert that only one godparent needs to be Catholic, while others insist that both must be. This is because godparents are expected to help raise the child in the Catholic faith, and some believe that only a true Catholic could fulfil this role.
The number of godparents varies across different Christian denominations. In the early church, one godparent seems to have been the norm, but from the early Middle Ages onwards, two became more common, one male (godfather) and one female (godmother). In some cases, there may be even more, with early 14th-century Spain seeing up to 20 godparents chosen for a single child.
The role of a godparent is a lifelong commitment, and they are expected to be a positive presence in the child's life. They are meant to serve as role models and advisors, providing guidance and support as the child grows up.
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Godparent requirements
Catholic Godparent Requirements:
- Number of Godparents: Church law requires only one godparent, but it is traditional to have two—one godfather and one godmother.
- Religion: At least one godparent must be Catholic, and they must be a confirmed, practising Catholic who faithfully believes in and participates in the Catholic faith as part of a parish community. The other godparent may be a non-Catholic Christian, designated as a "Christian witness".
- Age: Godparents must be at least 16 years old.
- Lifestyle: Godparents should not be divorced and remarried without annulment or excommunicated. They should be attempting to live out their faith through prayer, attending Mass, going to Confession, and being part of their faith community.
- Relationship to Child: Godparents cannot be the parents or legal guardians of the child.
- Proxy: If a godparent cannot be present at the baptism, they may be represented by a proxy, who can be Catholic or a Christian of another denomination.
Other Christian Denominations:
- Protestantism: In some Protestant denominations, such as those influenced by Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin, the role of godparents differs from mainstream Catholicism. For example, Luther opposed the prohibition of marriage between godparents and children, while Zwingli emphasised the role of parents and pastors. Calvin preferred birth parents to serve as sponsors, and among French Calvinists and Geneva residents, it became customary to have one godparent. Other Calvinists, particularly in Scotland and English colonies in America, did away with godparents entirely.
- Reformed Tradition: In the Reformed tradition, which includes Continental Reformed, Congregationalist, and Presbyterian Churches, godparents are often referred to as "sponsors". They stand with the child during infant baptism and pledge to instruct the child in the faith.
- Orthodox Christianity: In Orthodox Christianity, the practice of having two godparents of different sexes has been largely maintained.
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Godparents and transgender Catholics
Godparents are not just a Catholic thing, but they are also a part of other Christian denominations, such as the Reformed tradition, which includes the Continental Reformed, Congregationalist, and Presbyterian Churches, as well as Orthodox Christianity. However, the role and specific requirements of godparents may differ between these denominations. For example, in the Reformed tradition, godparents are referred to as "sponsors" and are expected to stand with the child during infant baptism, pledging to instruct the child in the faith. In Orthodox Christianity, it is common to have two godparents, one of each sex.
Within Catholicism, the role of a godparent is to bear witness to a child's baptism and later help in their catechesis and lifelong spiritual formation. Traditionally, there are two godparents, a male (godfather) and a female (godmother), though this is not always the case. In the past, the Catholic Church required that at least one godparent be Catholic, but this rule has been relaxed in some cases, with non-Catholic Christians serving as godparents as long as they are baptised.
Regarding transgender Catholics and godparents, the Vatican declared in 2015 that transgender Catholics could not become godparents, stating that transgender status "reveals in a public way an attitude opposite to the moral imperative of solving the problem of sexual identity according to the truth of one's own sexuality". However, in 2023, the Vatican reversed this stance, stating that transgender Catholics could be godparents under certain conditions. Specifically, the Vatican noted that a transgender person may be denied godparenthood if "there is a danger of scandal, undue legitimisation or disorientation in the educational sphere of the church community". The decision regarding a transgender person's suitability to be a godparent is left to the discretion of the local priest, who is instructed to exercise "pastoral prudence".
The Vatican's decision to allow transgender Catholics to serve as godparents under certain conditions is part of Pope Francis's efforts to make the Catholic Church more welcoming to LGBTQ+ people, despite the continued presence of doctrines rejecting same-sex marriage and sexual activity. This decision has been praised by supporters of LGBT+ rights in the Church as a step towards greater inclusion and recognition of transgender Catholics.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, godparents have to be Catholic. A non-Catholic person may not be a godparent at a Catholic baptism. However, a non-Catholic baptised Christian can participate in the Rite of Baptism as a "Christian witness", but a Catholic godparent must also be present.
The role of a godparent is to be a spiritual role model and guide. They bear witness to a child's baptism and later help in their catechesis and lifelong spiritual formation.
A godparent must be a confirmed, practising Catholic in good standing with the Church. They must be at least 16 years old and have received the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
