General Chat

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All my godchildren/nieces/nephews received a silver plated money box from us

As far as I know they still use them now - well they tell me they do when i send birthday & Christmas money

Non Catholics can be godparents to children baptised in the Roman Catholic faith.
My youngest had two C of E godparents and one RC.

You must have gone to the same school that I attended, Rollo!

I certainly understand your frustration about religion but two things: the child is being baptised so it ought to be fine for people to buy any type of gift they deem suitable; and it is up to the parents to rear a child the way they see fit,

In my opinion, as long as the child is loved, cared for, nourished and educated counts for everything. Children soon make their own minds up when they hit their teens - and sometimes before - so guidance early is better than not at all, even though we may disagree with the guidance provided by some parents.

Funnily enough, our friend who is an RC priest popped in this morning. We chatted about baptism and he endorsed all that I have said. Non Catholics are only considered as 'witnesses' to a baptism, not as Godparents. On the other hand, the C. of E. does allow Roman Catholics to be Godparents.

Things often slip though because not enough checks are made. We ask if Godparents are baptised but don't ask for proof. Some clergy are very laissez faire about things and I know of a young (non practising) Muslim lad who was Godparent in a Christian ceremony simply because no one asked if he was baptised - which he wasn't of course. :-S

last time we were godparents in mid eighties - the vicar asked to meet the godparents first and we were grilled! Both Anglican - OK, both christened and confirmed OK
and OH offered he had been an alter boy for some years - think that swung it.

The vicar then in charge of the local Anglican church did not ask to meet the godparents when our daughter was baptised at the age of 4 years back in the late 1970s, but he did ask to meet with OH.
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I did not, and still do not, attend church, which is why I was not involved in meeting the vicar .......... probably a VERY good job as it turned out!! :-D

That meeting took place on the Thursday evening before the baptism on the Sunday morning. The vicar asked for the names of the chosen godparents.

One was a non-practising Jew, but we felt very comfortable asking her and had not even thought there would be any problem ................ but he noticed the surname and asked "Is she Jewish?", then said "I cannot accept her as she cannot swear that she believes in Jesus Christ".

Imagine how we felt, having to tell our very best friend that she was not acceptable?

Fortunately she took it well, and said that she would instead be an "honorary godmother".

As a result, my daughter only had 1 godmother and 1 godfather, to the puzzlement of some members of the congregation.

The lady married my daughter's godfather a few years later........ at that point she said that he could do his duty as godfather, and she would take over when daughter reached 18. That in fact did not happen ............ he never relinquished his duty as godfather.

In fact, none of the godparents fulfilled their "duties" as intended by the church .......... but they did maintain major contact with my daughter, and watch that we were bringing her up as one would expect.


Interestingly, my daughter went to church regularly until about 3 years after she married, when she failed in finding any Anglican church in which she felt comfortable in her new place ........... she tried at least 4. All had homophobic vicars and congregations.

As a result, her own child has not been baptised, but they did have a "non-baptismal" appointment of godparents 2 years ago ........... celebrated at a dinner in their house. Her best female friend and husband agreed to be honorary godparents, and are the best that you can imagine, maintaining very regular contact with the child.