Godparents at a Catholic Baptism

Accepting the role of godparent for a child or of sponsor for an adult to be baptised is both an honour and a responsibility. Godparents promise to be good examples in living the Catholic faith and the values associated with the teachings of Jesus.

The Code of Canon Law, a system of legal laws and principles governing the Catholic Church, sets out the requirements for the godparents of someone to be baptised in the Catholic Church. Canon Law uses the term ‘sponsor’ for these people, a word more commonly used in relation to the Christian initiation of adults or in relation to the sacrament of Confirmation. The main concern of the Church is that the parents, supported by the godparents, will ensure that the child is raised and formed in the Catholic faith.

With respect to godparents/sponsors for the baptism of infants, Canon Law says that:

• A sponsor, together with the parents, presents an infant for baptism. A sponsor also helps the baptised person to lead a Christian life in keeping with baptism and to fulfil faithfully the obligations inherent in it.

• There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each.
• To be permitted to take on the function of sponsor a person must:
  - be designated by the parents and have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling this function;
  - be at least 17 years old, unless an exception has been granted for a just cause;
  - be a fully-initiated Catholic “who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on”; a baptised person who is not a Catholic cannot be a sponsor/godparent sponsor but may be designated a ‘witness’ at the Baptism along with the Catholic godparent;
  - not be the father or mother of the one to be baptised.

The Code of Canon Law requires godparents for infant baptism “insofar as possible”,  but they are not an absolute requirement for a valid baptism.

The Introduction to the Rite of Baptism for Children includes these statements about godparents:

• Because of the natural relationships, parents have a more important ministry and role in the baptism of infants than the godparents.
• Each child may have a godfather and a godmother; the word 'godparents' is used in the rite to describe both.

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