Baptism FAQ

The role and qualifications for baptismal sponsors and godparents include that the sponsor or godparent be:

• a confirmed Catholic, who is living a life befitting the role of sponsor,

• and who is not a parent of the person being baptized,

• and who is, ordinarily, sixteen years of age or older.

These qualifications are to be explained to the an adult to be baptized, or to the parents of those to be baptized as infants, early in the formation for this sacrament, so that they can choose suitable sponsors or godparents.

It is also worth noting that only one sponsor is required for Baptism, who, of necessity, must fulfill all of the requirements for this role. Also, there can be no more than two sponsors. One of these sponsors may be replaced by a “Christian witness”, a faithful, non Catholic Christian.