Can a non-Catholic Christian be a Godparent?

Answer 1

No.

Your sponsorship is your endorsement of the ceremony. Since Catholics believe that the fullness of the truth is in the teachings of the Catholic Church, sponsoring a non-Catholic baptism would mean you are allowing a loved one to be raised without the fullness of the truth. Therefore, all Catholics shouldn't be a sponsor at a non-Catholic baptism.

The proper thing for a Catholic to do is to express that you are happy they are entering into the Christian faith but remark that the Catholic Church is the only Christian church founded by Jesus and therefore, they remain a separated brother or sister from the church unless they become Catholic.

Remember, the key is to love them with a Christ-like love. That means being honest and telling them the truth. Not to give a watered down consent for a ceremony that will not bring them into full union with Christ's Church.

Answer 2

First of all, Catholics ARE Christians. If you wish to refer to non-Catholic Christians the correct term is "Protestant".

Second of all, no because the duty of a Godparent is to raise a child in the Faith, and for Catholics this is the Catholic Faith, not the Protestant faith. This would end with one of two problems:

1. The Catholic godparent teaches the child the Catholic faith against the wishes of the parents.

2. The Catholic feigns his/her Catholic faith to teach the child the (erroneous) Protestant faith.

Finally, From The Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism (98):

"It is the Catholic understanding that godparents, in a liturgical and canonical sense, should themselves be members of the Church or ecclesial Community in which the baptism is being celebrated. They do not merely undertake a responsibility for the Christian education of the person being baptized (or confirmed) as a relation or friend; they are also there as representatives of a community of faith, standing as guarantees of the candidate's faith and desire for ecclesial communion.

a) However, based on the common baptism and because of ties of blood or friendship, a baptized person who belongs to another ecclesial Community may be admitted as a witness to the baptism, but only together with a Catholic godparent.[107] A Catholic may do the same for a person being baptized in another ecclesial Community.

b) Because of the close communion between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches, it is permissible for a just cause for an Eastern faithful to act as godparent; together with a Catholic godparent, at the baptism of a Catholic infant or adult, so long as there is provision for the Catholic education of the person being baptized, and it is clear that the godparent is a suitable one.

A Catholic is not forbidden to stand as godparent in an Eastern Orthodox Church, if he/she is so invited. In this case, the duty of providing for the Christian education binds in the first place the godparent who belongs to the Church in which the child is baptized. "

Answer 3

Yes. Catholics are Christians.

Roman Catholic AnswerIf you mean by "Christian" non-Catholic or Protestant, then no. A Catholic can only serve as a God-parent in a Catholic baptism. This would constitute a sin on the Catholic's part, you should speak to your parish priest about this.

Answer 4

No. In Catholicism, the purpose of a godparent is to guide the child (through words, actions, and example) in the Catholic faith, and to help them back to Catholicism if they fall away. Obviously, a non-Catholic is not able to fulfill this duty, so they cannot be a godparent.

Answer 5

Of course, they must be, unless you are using the term "Christian" to refer to protestant, in which case, no. A Godparent is required to be a practicing Christian who attends, and believes in the Catholic Church.

Answer 6

.

Catholic AnswerIf you mean can a protestant be a Godparent for a Catholic, then the answer is no. The Godparent's job is to bring the child up in the Catholic faith, and the first basic requirement of a Godparent is that they are a good practicing Catholic.

Answer 7

Only if that Christian is a Catholic.