Godparents-presents for godchild's siblings?

ttc39

I had to "laugh" a few years ago. I was asked to be a god parent. But the vicar wouldn't let me have a candle and be an official one as I hadn't been christened :-(

Yet the child was my friends who were living together and not married!

I decided then it was all very hypocritical :-(

Mojisola

FBaby wrote: »

The same way you raise your children to grow to be someone you don't forcibly agree with but respect.

I made it very clear to the parents of my Godchildren that although I did not share their religion (or any for that matter), I had no issue encouraging the children to grow to develop their own spiritual life. I totally appreciated my role as such and considered it seriously before saying yes.

Isn't it in the true spirit of any religion that you should not discriminate? Isn't assuming that someone atheist not to be capable of supporting a child to grow and respect their religion discrimination?

Didn't you have to stand in their church and make promises about bringing up the child in their religion during the christening service?

notanewuser

elsien wrote: »

Technically correct, but people do ask for that reason. I was godparented because of getting the child if anything happens to the parents. And then they had the proper denomination godparent for the spiritual side of things - as a non-catholic I apparently didn't really count in the promises side of things anyway even if I had been a believer.

As if that actually happens!!!! It's all made-up, big fat hairy bolleaux!!! :rotfl:

mintymoneysaver

I have 4 god children. Two, I buy nothing for as over the years my friendship with their parents has waned ( and we never did buy anything big) The other two are as close as family, and I would always spend the same on them as their siblings. The two families of those two are god parents to mine and do the same. My youngest also has a god parent who has no children of her own but has always bought equally for my two. She has mentioned a will, and leaving something, but I am not sure if she means to both of them or just one.

seven-day-weekend

How on earth can you be a Godparent if you are an atheist. Obviously you didn't intend to keep the promises you made at the christening.

Oh well, off-topic.

I always bought something for my Goddaughter's sibling while they were small but now they are grown up I don't buy for either of them. If my Goddaughter marries I will buy her a good present then.

FBaby

Mojisola wrote: »

Didn't you have to stand in their church and make promises about bringing up the child in their religion during the christening service?

I did and make that promise, to the priest and previously to the parents. Why assuming that I have to be a catholic myself to make a promise that I will support my Godchild in becoming a good catholic? I am totally respectful of that religion (or any other for that matter), I just happen not to follow it myself.

Does this mean that I wouldn't be able to support her choice to be a lesbian one day if she became one because I am not one myself?

FBaby

How on earth can you be a Godparent if you are an atheist. Obviously you didn't intend to keep the promises you made at the christening.

Well for one I would teach her that being judgmental is not very christian , one of the key fundamentals of the religion I believe.

notanewuser

FBaby wrote: »

I did and make that promise, to the priest and previously to the parents. Why assuming that I have to be a catholic myself to make a promise that I will support my Godchild in becoming a good catholic? I am totally respectful of that religion (or any other for that matter), I just happen not to follow it myself.

Does this mean that I wouldn't be able to support her choice to be a lesbian one day if she became one because I am not one myself?

But you had to denounce Satan, surely? How can you denounce something you don't believe in?

seven-day-weekend

FBaby wrote: »

Well for one I would teach her that being judgmental is not very christian , one of the key fundamentals of the religion I believe.

You are absolutely right, I should not have been so judgemental. I apologise.

I will rephrase to say I don't see how you can make promises to do something you don't believe in, nor how you can keep those promises.

I suppose if you make sure she goes to church and has a good founding in Christian knowledge, you could do that, but would you, if you do not believe it to be true?

Mojisola

FBaby wrote: »

I did and make that promise, to the priest and previously to the parents. Why assuming that I have to be a catholic myself to make a promise that I will support my Godchild in becoming a good catholic? I am totally respectful of that religion (or any other for that matter), I just happen not to follow it myself.

Did the priest know you weren't a Catholic? It used to be that only RCs were allowed to be godparents.