Christening question

NocturnalDonkey

Does the parents of a child being christened a catholic have to be catholic?
Also, do the God parents have to be Catholic?

If they do, how does the church check up on this?

KdjaCL

They dont just nod and say all the crap.

kdjac

Doc

I don’t think the parents have to be Catholic but I thought that the original point of godparents is to educate the child in the teachings of the church so they should really be. As to if the church will check up on them I doubt this very much.

LoneGunM@n

I thought that both the parents and the god-parents had to be Catholic for a Catholic christening ... AFAK one of the questions asked of both the parents and the god-parents goes something like: will you raise this child through the teachings of the church!

jor el

The God-parents have to be Catholic, or be represented with Catholics. I know that if one of the parents isn't Catholic it doesn't matter, as in the case of my Niece, her father is Church of England and was never baptised.

hedgetrimmer

Go to the unitarian church off Stephen's Green. Christening is just a religious ceremony - the birth would have been registered in the hospital. As such, the idea is that the baby is baptised in Christ, as a Christian, and his parents and god-parents are obviously expected to be of that faith.

The Church doesn't run checks or anything - the obligation is seen as a spiritual and religious one, though when booking, the priest may ask you a few questions. They can, but rarely do, refuse baptisms

Victor

For a Catholic christening, one parent must be Catholic and the godparents must be at least Christian. My Catholic niece has a Church of Ireland godfather.

Go to the unitarian church off Stephen's Green. Christening is just a religious ceremony - the birth would have been registered in the hospital. As such, the idea is that the baby is baptised in Christ, as a Christian, and his parents and god-parents are obviously expected to be of that faith.

I'm not sure what the situation would be if that baby intends to get marrie din a Catholic church in future to a non-Catholic - they may need to be (re)christened Catholic.

l3rian

wait till the kid is older and can make their own decision about joining the cult before you make them take part in the crazy ritual

KdjaCL

Originally posted by KdjaC
just nod and say all the crap.

Seriously it will save time and you be out the church in no time.

Sadly in this stupid country you must get kids christened.

kdjac

pork99

Originally posted by KdjaC

Sadly in this stupid country you must get kids christened.

kdjac

explain

I wasn't aware of any such law

Or do you mean just for Catholics?

NocturnalDonkey

Thanks guys.

I'm Catholic, but my gf isn't. She wants the baby christened, i don't really mind either way. I suppose the only reason im going ahead with it, is that the child won't feel left out when it comes to first communion and confirmation in school.

Being Christening and being a Catholic hasn't done me any harm, even thought i don't believe in all that religion crap.

cleareyed

At least one parent would have to be catholic. I always thought that both god parents had to be catholic; i am surprised by moderator's revelation about CoI. The Church has not checked on godparents in the past but it is very easily done. Strictly speaking if a non baptised person or a catholic who regarded the whole thing as mumbo jumbo acted as a godparent it would call into question the validity of the baptism: that in turn could affect child's future entry into (catholic) national school and participation in first communion and confirmation. It is an interesting question in canon law! I think you would get away with it because any baptised person can baptise others in extraordinary circumstances so the sacrament would prob. be regarded as valid. It really is extraordinary in 2004 isn't it?

KdjaCL

Originally posted by pork99
explain

I wasn't aware of any such law

Or do you mean just for Catholics?

Not a nice subject but if a child is born in ireland and not christened ,the church wont hold a funeral mass for the child if it dies.


kdjac

Kastro

i thought they were just there to give you money on yer communion an confo? thats the only times ive ever seen mine.

Victor

Originally posted by cleareyed
Strictly speaking if a non baptised person or a catholic who regarded the whole thing as mumbo jumbo acted as a godparent it would call into question the validity of the baptism:

Poo of the highest order.

Originally posted by cleareyed
Strictly speaking if a non baptised person or a catholic who regarded the whole thing as mumbo jumbo acted as a godparent it would call into question the validity of the baptism: that in turn could affect child's future entry into (catholic) national school

No it won't. As the majority of national schools have catholic patronage, the majority of non-catholic children already attend catholic schools.

Originally posted by cleareyed
participation in first communion and confirmation. It is an interesting question in canon law!

That, of course, would be an ecumencial matter.

pork99

Originally posted by KdjaC
Not a nice subject but if a child is born in ireland and not christened ,the church wont hold a funeral mass for the child if it dies.


kdjac

so? who needs 'em?

http://www.irish-humanists.org/cere.html

RainyDay

Originally posted by NocturnalDonkey
I'm Catholic, but my gf isn't. She wants the baby christened, i don't really mind either way. I suppose the only reason im going ahead with it, is that the child won't feel left out when it comes to first communion and confirmation in school.

Yeah - it's great to get the important principle of bowing down to peer pressure ingrained at an early age. It saves having to thing for yourself as a parent or worse still, encouraging your kids to think for themselves.

KdjaCL

Originally posted by pork99
so? who needs 'em?

http://www.irish-humanists.org/cere.html

Can be difficult when older family members are invloved which they usally are, personally i would love to have used that humanist options. But others msut be taken into consideration family members etc:

kdjac

Superman

Originally posted by NocturnalDonkey
Does the parents of a child being christened a catholic have to be catholic?
Also, do the God parents have to be Catholic?

yes.. watch the godfather part 2!

sceptre

Originally posted by Superman
yes.. watch the godfather part 2!

The pre-Vatican2-set Godfather 2?:)

@RainyDay
I'm firmly with you there. I even had the "I'm damned if I'm going to do something just because everything considers it 'normal' " conversation with my better-looking better half last week, though it was nowt to do with indoctrinating kiddies and more to do with perceived peer pressure in general.

cleareyed

Dear Mr/Ms/It Moderator


I am not sure if you are referring to my understanding of Church rules or the rules themselves when you comment on their poo-quality. If the former it would be nice to have a definitive ruling from someone trained in Canon law; my own training was many years ago and I was an indifferent student. Perhaps you are more informed?


You claim that an invalid baptism won't affect entry to a RC N.S. I agree that it is unlikely but it is possible under the Education Act 1998 for schools to restrict entry on the grounds of the "characteristic spirit" of the school. Non-RCs do attend such schools but they do so by indulgence of the Board of Management, not by right.
In simpler terms, a non-baptised person could legally be denied entry to a RC NS.

Finally, ecumenical matters are normally regarded as relations between the Christian Churches. However inane you and I might regard Canon Law as being, it remains a relevant factor in the question originally posted. The alcohol fuelled oblivion of Fr Jack hardly throws much light on the topic here apart from illustrating your own rather limited resources on Church teaching and recent education legislation. I think the only appropriate closing address to you should be "Arse".

The Real B-man

Originally posted by l3rian
wait till the kid is older and can make their own decision about joining the cult before you make them take part in the crazy ritual

lol yeah i hate cults

alleepally

Originally posted by l3rian
wait till the kid is older and can make their own decision about joining the cult before you make them take part in the crazy ritual

Yeah I agree and on a similar line, make sure the child does not have access to any mass media until they are of an age to decide if they want to become a member of the cult/religion of consumerism.