Expert: Tom Schott - 9/5/2007

Question
My husband and I are Methodist, I'm fully practicing; he attends occasionally.  We're choosing the godparents for our son now, and he suggested that we ask a dear Catholic friend of ours.  This friend is a devout and practicing; we have known him for nearly fifteen years.  He was in our wedding thirteen years ago; my husband was in his wedding ten years ago, etc.  We are very close friends with him and his wife (who is also a devout, practicing Catholic).

I would would absolutely love to ask this person, along with my Methodist sister, to be Godparents to my son.  The Methodist church only requires that Godparents must be baptised Christians, and makes no stipulation on denomination.  Of course most often, at least one of the Godparents is Methodist.  So there are no rules within my church that would preclude this close friend from assuming the role of Godfather to my child.

On the other hand, I do not want to ask this person, in ignorance, if he must refuse because of his faith.  I understand well the role of Godparent (my husband and I have two godchildren).  The role is one of christian spiritual guidance, and (as I see it within the Catholic faith), church doctrinal guidance as well.  

I have searched through numerous Catholic websites looking for answers on this particular subject.  From what I've read so far, the Catholic church would permit that he stand as witness at my child's baptism, but not as a Godparent.  (These have not been official Catholic sites, but rather blog-type entries).  The rational given was, "How could he instruct my child in the Methodist church if he is not familiar with it?"

My husband and I have given that quite a bit of thought; a lot of thought, really.  Just as 99.5% of Catholics were born into Catholicism (I think that was in one of your prior answers), most of us Methodists were born Methodist.  Truly, though, I believe that the Catholic church offers a means of salvation through grace by the sacraments, and like I do, believes in the Trinity.  I know I'm getting long-winded here, but here goes- if something were to happen to both me and my husband which left this dear friend responsible for our son's religious upbringing, I'd be blessed by that.  This dear friend could, with our full approval, instruct our son in Catholicism rather than the Methodist church.  I would most certainly have peace with that.  This friend of ours is such a wonderful person- any child mentored by him could not help but see God's grace reflected.

That said, we don't want, in ignorance, to ask him to do something that the Catholic church will not permit.

Answer
Shama,

 You and your husband sound like wonderful people. It's inspiring to me that you take your responsibilities in your faith (and ours) so seriously. Under the circumstances you describe, there is certainly nothing wrong with asking your friend to be be godparent to your child. I would encourage it, in fact. I think he would be blessed by it. A lot of what you read on Catholic blogs are from people who are more zealous than informed. God bless all of you. Pray for me and for peace in this world.