# Requirements to be a Catholic godparent?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requirements-to-be-a-catholic-godparent/650030>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 11, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requirements-to-be-a-catholic-godparent/650030 "2013-02-11T22:34:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requirements-to-be-a-catholic-godparent/650030/41 "2013-02-12T21:20:14Z")

</div>

> [@FrankJBN](#):
>
> I will note that it seems a shame for the little girl that care of her eternal soul meant so little to her sponsor.

If it meant any more to her parent I’m sure she would asked someone else. Apparently she felt her daughter’s mortal existence to be a bit more important.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requirements-to-be-a-catholic-godparent/650030/42 "2013-02-13T02:04:57Z")

</div>

In addition to the affirmation of baptismal promises listed above, at the beginning of the ceremony or Mass, the parents and godparents are asked:  
You parents have asked to have your children baptized.  
In doing so, you are accepting  
the responsibility of training them  
in the practice of the faith.  
It will be your duty to bring them up  
to keep God’s commandments as Christ has taught us,  
by loving God and our neighbor.  
Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking? [I do]

Do you godparents also understand the responsibilities  
of these Christian parents  
and promise to help them in their duty? [I do]

The Christian community welcomes these children  
with great joy.

In its name I claim them for Christ our Savior  
by the signing them on the forehead  
with the sign of the cross.

I invite the parents and godparents to do the same after me.

And I ask for everyone to pray  
for these children and their family(families).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requirements-to-be-a-catholic-godparent/650030/43 "2013-02-13T16:12:14Z")

</div>

I am a GF to a Catholic girl, and I am most definitely Protestant.

Before the ceremony (baptism/confirmation I can’t recall which), they asked for my name. Then, they asked if I was Catholic. I said ‘no’ and they noted it in the records, and carried on.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requirements-to-be-a-catholic-godparent/650030.md?page=2)