Why Should a Spouse Not Serve as a Sponsor?
Posted on July 31st, 2009
Q. I would like to know why it is not recommended to use fiancées or spouses as sponsors.
A. Inquirers sometimes suggest a Catholic spouse, fiancé(e), or “significant other” to serve as godparent or sponsor. It is not prohibited by the code of Canon Law or the ritual book, but it also is not advisable, even if they meet the canonical requirements.
The close emotional tie makes it difficult for the inquirer to freely choose to become a Catholic. It also is difficult for the godparent or sponsor to remain objective if problems arise that threaten the conversion, such as doubts about a certain doctrine on the part of the person who is trying to decide whether to become Catholic. There can be a temptation for the godparent or sponsor to not allow such a crisis to run its proper course, since he or she has so much stake in the person’s “successful” completion of the process. The participant then is deprived of the disinterested advice and loving, but non-pressuring support that a godparent or sponsor should be providing.
A pastoral solution for inquirers is appointing a parish sponsor and inviting the spouse, fiancé(e), or “significant other” to accompany the inquirer to the catechetical sessions and liturgies. Should a participant, however, then choose the spouse/fiancé(e)/”significant other” as a godparent before the Rite of Election (which cannot be prohibited), the leader might suggest that the participant choose the parish sponsor as another godparent, canonically permissible so long as both godparents are not of the same sex.
Tags: Sponsors
Filed under Q & A, Sponsors |
