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Dear Abby: Atheist Godparents
DEAR ABBY: Can an atheist be a godparent? -- WONDERING IN WISCONSIN
DEAR WONDERING: Yes. Today, the word "godparent" does not always have explicitly religious overtones. A godparent can be anyone the parents trust to take care of their child in the event of the parents' deaths. However, the potential godparents and the child's parents should discuss this in detail before any decision is made about conferring such an honor and responsibility.
DEAR WONDERING: Yes. Today, the word "godparent" does not always have explicitly religious overtones. A godparent can be anyone the parents trust to take care of their child in the event of the parents' deaths. However, the potential godparents and the child's parents should discuss this in detail before any decision is made about conferring such an honor and responsibility.
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I think Abby kind of oversimplified this one. It really depends on what you mean by "godparent."
Is it just a title the parents confer, meaning much what Abby says, someone who will, if not raise the child, at least be present in their lives?
Or is it an official role given in a church? I know that in the Catholic Church, while only one godparent must be a Catholic, the other must be a baptized Christian. Which, admittedly, gets into the muddy area between being raised in a faith and current believing in it, but the promise the godparents make at baptism is to be sure the child is raised in the faith. That could be a real issue.
Thoughts?
no subject
"Yes, with caveats. To many, the role of a godparent is to ensure the continuity of loving care for a child in the event of tragedy befalling their parents, and the religious faith and practice of the 'god'parent is not relevant. However, to others, the role of godparent still involves faith-based guidance and mentoring, and an implicit expectation that a godparent would be active on that front.
"If you are considering accepting a request to be a child's godparent, you should have a conversation with the child's parents to be sure that your expectations and ideas of the role of godparent are mutually compatible. If you're a new parent looking for a godparent for your child, you should consider for yourself whether faith and practice should be a factor in your choice of godparent - and you should outline those expectations for any godparents-to-be who agree to your invitation."
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