John Halligan the Godfather, and the Bishop

RobertKK

http://www.munster-express.ie/local-news/question-of-spirit/

Minister of State John Halligan has accepted that he didn’t meet the criteria to stand as a Confirmation sponsor for his Godson in Waterford over the weekend.
However, the Independent Alliance TD feels he has been ’singled out’ for such treatment by the Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, Alphonsus Cullinan.

The Bishop had told parishes in his diocese the following: ‘Sponsors should give the [Confirmation] candidate a good example of what it means to be a disciple of Christ and should take their own spiritual life seriously. This will be shown by their [Sponsor’s] love of God, their love for the Word of God, for the Mass and the Sacraments, for the teachings of the Church, and by the love they show for others. A Sponsor must be a confirmed and practising Catholic.”

I don't know why he feels singled out, how many run to the media if it becomes known the Godparent doesn't meet the criteria for confirmation?
John Halligan wanted to play the victim by claiming to be singled out. It's wanting something one isn't entitled to and then crying when they knew they were not entitled when they knew they were not suitable to start with.

That is the most Irish thing I've ever read.

super_furry

Imagine being called Alphonsus.

Fairly lousy behaviour from the Catholic church though. I mean it's not like anyone who gets these 'sacrements' believes in any of their nonsense anymore.

You get a kid baptised because you need to for a school place, let them make their communion and confirmation because it's a nice day for them and all their friends are, and you might get married in a church because it's nice and traditional and offers a good backdrop for photos.

In between all that you don't actually bother your arse going to mass or any of that other nonsense, unless you have to show your face for a funeral or something.

jester77

Sounds like the big day out has been ruined

Riskymove

A Sponsor must be a confirmed and practising Catholic

I suppose a question that arises is were all sponsors asked to confirm this or was it just that as Halligans views are known he was singled out


I think it highly unlikely that all sponsors are (really) practising catholics

Dyr

By that logic, will the bishop now annul any confirmations where it turns out that the celebrant priest was ****ing kids in his spare time?

super_furry

Bambi wrote: »

By that logic, will the bishop now annul any confirmations where it turns out that the celebrant priest was ****ing kids in his spare time?

Not at all. Sure all they have to do is go inside a wooden box, whisper that they're sorry to another man inside that box and everything is fine. You don't even have to worry about telling the Gardai or anything like that.

RobertKK

If a person is an atheist as a Godparent when the child was baptised, that would have meant the person would have had to lie to the priest given they would have had to confirm during baptism that they would help bringing up the child in the Christian faith.

ohnonotgmail

Riskymove wrote: »

I suppose a question that arises is were all sponsors asked to confirm this or was it just that as Halligans views are known he was singled out


I think it highly unlikely that all sponsors are (really) practising catholics

I've been a sponsor and i was never asked. I've been a godparent twice and wasnt asked then either. It is clear he was singled out.

ohnonotgmail

RobertKK wrote: »

If a person is an atheist as a Godparent when the child was baptised, that would have meant the person would have had to lie to the priest given they would have had to confirm during baptism that they would help bringing up the child in the Christian faith.

If only lying was the worst thing to ever happen in a catholic church.

TheValeyard

A thread about the Catholic church?

*shocked*


Serious note though, Bishop has a point, why be a godfather for a catholic service if your an atheist. Makes no sense. Surely only practicing Catholics should be making their communion and godparents actually also practicing.

Ash.J.Williams

I will vote yes, and I'm not a church goer and I wish to vomit upon the cross of Christ.....

that withstanding....

I heard a load of parents moaning about a priest discussing the referendum at a communion saying "down with this sort of thing"....

is it not lost on them that perhaps they are not reeeeeal catholics and probably shouldn't be there????

you can't just walk into a church for one day and start throwin your weight around...

ohnonotgmail

Murray TheDemonic TalkingSkull wrote: »

A thread about the Catholic church?

*shocked*


Serious note though, Bishop has a point, why be a godfather for a catholic service if your an atheist. Makes no sense. Surely only practicing Catholics should be making their communion and godparents actually also practicing.

the place would be empty so.

Dyr

Murray TheDemonic TalkingSkull wrote: »

Serious note though, Bishop has a point, why be a godfather for a catholic service if your an atheist.

Because the kid reckons you're their best option for a few bob of course

super_furry

Murray TheDemonic TalkingSkull wrote: »

A thread about the Catholic church?

*shocked*


Serious note though, Bishop has a point, why be a godfather for a catholic service if your an atheist. Makes no sense. Surely only practicing Catholics should be making their communion and godparents actually also practicing.

Absolutely. Same with baptism. But the problem is that baptising a kid is still a prerequisite to sending one to school and once you do that, well you're in for the whole communion and confirmation package too.

RobertKK

I looked up the rules on on baptism given that is when one becomes a Godparent, this from the parish of Rathmines:

http://rathminesparish.ie/sacraments-a-services/2-uncategorised/64-why-baptism-some-general-pointers

What are the requirements for baptism?

For a child to be baptized in the Roman Catholic Church, there must be a basis for hope that the child will be raised in the Catholic faith. In practice, this generally means that at least one parent is Catholic. Each child brought forward for baptism must also have at least one godparent who is a confirmed, practicing Catholic age 16 or older.



What are the requirements for godparents?

We hope that parents choose godparents who will take an active role in the faith formation of their child.



It is important to understand that the godparent(s) by present at the rite so that they can make their commitment publicly. Also that the church continues to understand that the bond between the godparent(s) and the family is very close, and to ask that the godparent not only be ready to help the parents, when appropriate, in the Christian formation of their child but even more that the godparent be an example to the child of what a Christian is.

Lastly it is good to remember that during the celebration the godparent(s) speak not only for themselves but for the entire church.

So with this in mind:

The church requires at least one godparent who is a practicing, confirmed Catholic age 16 or older. That godparent's name is entered into the parish record book as the "official" godparent or sponsor for baptism.

If you choose more than two godparents, one or two may have their names entered into the book as "official" godparents, and the others can be "honorary" godparents. You don't have to tell them which is which. All the godparents' personal relationship to the child and to you as a family is the same whether their names are recorded in the book or not.

If you choose two godparents of the same sex, one can be the "official" godparent for the record book, and the other can be the "honorary" one. (Just as above, you don't have to tell anyone which is which except us.)

Baptized non-Catholic Christians may not be "official" godparents for the record book, but they may be Christian witnesses for your child.

People who are not baptized Christians cannot be sponsors for baptism, since they themselves are not baptized. However, you may certainly invite non-Christian friends or relatives to attend the celebration and to have a special place in your child's life, sharing with your child their own faith traditions

TheValeyard

What is the going rate these days if your the godparent?