Expert: Fr. Michael - 5/5/2009

Question
Hello father

My wife is pregenant and expecting ou first child in october.  we want outr baby to be christaned into the catholic church within the first year.

We have thought aboout who to have as god parents. I wouls like to have one of my oldest and most trusted friends as god father. However he is a muslim. ALthough he isnt a practising one, ( We oftern go out drinking together.)  Will this be a problem ?

Thank you

Mark Smith
Essex, England

Answer
Yes, this is a grave problem and invalidates the sponsorship.  The godparents must be practicing Catholics, as their responsibility is to educate the child in the true Faith, that is, the traditional Catholic Faith, should the parents fail in that responsibility.

Some Catholics are apparently ignorant of the fact that the role of godparent is a religious one, not some "honorific" one.  A godparent, for example, contracts a diriment impediment to marriage with a godchild, just as a natural parent would.

Having a Muslim, or any other non-practicing Catholic as a godparent at a Catholic Baptism makes just as much sense as having a Muslim sponsor a Jew at Bar Mitzvah!