Can a greek orthodox be a godmother of a catolic?
November 27, 2009 - 10:17 pm
I am a greek-orthodox and my little niece is catholic. She is going to have her 1 communion this June and wants me to be her godmother. According to a catholic tradition can I participate in this ceremony and be her godmother?
I don’t particularly understand the question because you get godparents at baptism, and not at first communion. For baptism, at least one godparent must be Catholic, and the other can be pretty much anything. Those godparents are godparents for life, and the child gets no more after that. In other words, the godparents gotten at her baptism would be her godparents during her 1st communion as well.
November 28th, 2009 at 3:52 am
IJR sees no reason why not. The Orthodox and the Catholics are virtually the same theologically speaking. Each considers the other to be "in Schism" and a heresy. The main difference is in the Authority of the Papst. The church might thnk differently though.
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November 28th, 2009 at 4:06 am
I don’t particularly understand the question because you get godparents at baptism, and not at first communion. For baptism, at least one godparent must be Catholic, and the other can be pretty much anything. Those godparents are godparents for life, and the child gets no more after that. In other words, the godparents gotten at her baptism would be her godparents during her 1st communion as well.
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November 28th, 2009 at 4:18 am
Technically a "god parent" is there to help assist in the growth (spiritual) and development of the child, not to mention should anything happen to the parents, they can take over the care of the child. These days, there are various legal documents that get in the way (depending where you live etc).
I would say that the possible problem may be of what ""sort" of Christianity will you bestow upon the child .. your Greek Orthodox or Catholism. Have you talked about this to the parents – to the priest who is conducting the service? Maybe you can come up with a compromise.
I personally can’t see a problem but I am not a Christian – I would suggest you talk to the people above mentioned …
But if they are uncomfortable, maybe because as your niece wants you there to play a role in her life, then can something be arranged – an alternative role
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November 28th, 2009 at 4:33 am
My 500 Questions and Answers eastern orthodox book only addresses whether an orthodox child can have a non-orthodox godparent, which firmly answers that the godparent must be orthodox. It doesn’t address the opposite way around. You will probably get a variety of opinions if you ask around enough, so approach different priests to guage a variety of opinions.
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November 28th, 2009 at 5:21 am
There is no godmother associated with First Communion.
There are Godparents with Baptism and a Sponsor with Confirmation but none for First Communion.
All are invited to all Catholic ceremonies including First Communion.
In Baptism, only one Godparent is necessary. You can have one godfather, one godmother, or one of each.
The role of the godfather and/or godmother is very important. They must be firm Catholic believers, able and ready to help the newly baptized—child or adult—on the road of Christian life.
To ensure this, a godparent must be at least 16 years old (for maturity’s sake), fully initiated (having received Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist), be someone other than the legal parents, and one who leads a life in harmony with the Church.
If you have only one Catholic godparent, then you may have a baptized non-Catholic Christian participate as an official witness. The witness will be responsible for setting a good example for the baptized person while the Catholic godparent will share the specifics of the Catholic faith.
For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 1255: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2.shtml
and the Code of Canon law, Canon 872 and following: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2Y.HTM
With love in Christ.
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November 28th, 2009 at 5:26 am
I agree with imacatholic2 above me…
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http://www.christianforums.com
November 28th, 2009 at 5:33 am
Speaking from the Orthodox side, this is strongly discouraged, at least by my priest. How can you guide her in the Faith, if she is being raised in a different faith?
(Roman Catholicism and Orthodoxy are NOT virtually the same. There are significant theological differences, as well as a fundamental, underlying difference in outlook/viewpoint/approach to the Faith and Christian life.)
You should ask your own priest, however, and follow his guidance. (I’m assuming you are a practicing Orthodox Christian; otherwise the question makes no difference.)
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