Expert: Fr. Michael - 1/10/2009

Question
Dear Fr. Jerome,
My sister just had her third baby. She and I are very close but there is a strain. Her family will not allow me to be a God Mother to any of the children. I was raised Catholic in fact my Grand Mother was a nun for a while but did not take her final vows. I presently do not attend church. My question to you is does a God parent actually have to be a practicing Catholic? Is not the role of a God parent to be a person of guidance regardless of religion?
Thank you,
Lucille

Answer
"Regardless of religion?"  That makes no sense at all.  Baptism is a Sacrament of the Church.  If you are not a practicing member of the Church, how could you possibly provide the right religious guidance if the parents fail in their duty?  Your sister is absolutely correct in determining that you are not suitable for this religious role.  What your grandmother did is irrelevant.  It is what you are doing (or not doing) that is the issue.

You should say a prayer of thanksgiving that your sister has remained so loyal to God and his Church.  Pray God that this incident can be the occasion for you to reconsider what <i>you</i> are doing religiously, whether you are practicing the true Faith in which you were baptized, or whether you have abandoned it and sold out to some false notion in which anything goes as far as religion is concerned.