Godparent question
Question from Alice on 2/28/2008:

I am watching a program on EWTN and a question came up regarding godparents. It was pointed out that canon law states it must be one female and one male godparent and not two male or two female.

What happens if it has already happened? My son has one godfather -- my Catholic brother and my brother-in-law is a Christian witness. And my daughter has one godmother -- my Catholic sister and my sister-in-law is a Christian witness. Also, my husband (not Catholic) is a Christian witness to his nephew along with our nephew's Catholic uncle and I am my niece's godmother but her mom's twin sister is the Christian witness. These are three different Catholic churches within our dioceses. I'm very confused. Thanks for clarifying!

Answer by Catholic Answers on 2/29/2008:
Alice--

Christian witnesses are not godparents. In the cases you cite, only the Catholic is the godparent. The Christian witnesses are merely non-Catholic Christian guests at the baptism given special honor by witnessing the baptism in a more formal manner than the other guests. Although they may act as informal spiritual mentors to the child as he matures in the faith, responsibility for his Catholic education belongs to his parents and, secondarily, to his Catholic godparents.

Michelle Arnold
Catholic Answers