Catholic Christening - Sponsor not Godparent?

PeskyPenguin

Hi, I wonder if anyone can help me here. I have also been asked to be a godparent to a Catholic child although I am CofE. Apparently the Priest has informed the parents that as such I will not be a Godparent but in fact a 'Sponsor'.

I have never heard this term before. Is there any difference? Will I be named differently in the ceremony and divided from the actual 'Godparents'? My sister is Godmother to two Catholic children and this has never been an issue before .

Many thanks.

Gingernutmeg

I suspect it's just a difference in terminology, and is one of those things that varies from priest to priest and church to church. I was baptised Catholic and I have CoE Godparents and it was never an issue, and this was over twenty years ago lol. I'd ask the parents to find out more for you - if it's something that's an issue to the priest and the way he handles it might make you uncomfortable then I'd discuss this with them and go from there

inkie

Best person to ask is the priest - he will be doing the ceremony and so will tell you all the whys and wherefores if asked.

turner5

I'm a Catholic & when I had my 2 year old daughter Christened I had a non-catholic Godparent. So long as at least 1 of the godparents is catholic I don't think it matters about the others. Certainly my friend was not treated any differently during the service to the catholic god parents.

Js_Other_Half

I am CofE and am godmother to a Catholic child. The parents did however have to have one catholic as a godparent.

traciekan

i should think its the priest being stroppy. as a non catholic you re not good enough to agree to the demands they make in theological terms.