Dear Catholic Exchange:
In reading several textbooks (mostly printed prior to the 1960s), I came across an interesting teaching. According to these books, because of the special relationship established between a godparent and the baptismal candidate, marriage between the two is forbidden. Yet, I can’t seem to find anything in the Catechism regarding this teaching. Hence, I believe this teaching may have been changed. From what I understand, the rules on the marriage between a baptismal candidate and Confirmation sponsor have changed. Can you tell me where I can find an answer to my question?
Also, I am interested in knowing why the Church changed its teaching on allowing a godparent to be a Confirmation sponsor. Can you address this as well?
Thanks in advance for your answers.
God bless,
Alice Rawlings
Dear Alice,
Peace in Christ!
The Church does teach, as you noted, that a spiritual relationship arises between sponsors and those whom they sponsor. In past times, the discipline of the Church was that this spiritual relationship constituted an impediment to marriage. The 1917 Code of Canon Law maintained this impediment with regard to sponsors and baptismal candidates (canon 1079), but abolished it with regard to Confirmation sponsors (A Practical Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, by Rev. Stanislaus Woywood [New York: Joseph F. Wagner, Inc., 1952], p. 420). The Code of Canon Law promulgated in 1983 abolished this discipline with regard to sponsors and baptismal candidates as well.
The impediment of the spiritual relationship was never thought by the Church to be a mandate of divine law, but a necessary discipline of the time. The bishop could dispense from this impediment under the former law. The Eastern Catholic Churches have maintained this discipline with regard to Baptism, but the bishop can grant a dispensation (Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, canon 811 §1).
Regarding the second question, under the 1917 Code of Canon Law the sponsor at Baptism should not ordinarily have been the sponsor for Confirmation, though exceptions were permitted for a reasonable cause by the minister of Confirmation, who is ordinarily the bishop (cf. Practical Commentary, p. 419). For Confirmation under the 1983 Code, “It is desirable to choose as sponsor the one who undertook the same function in Baptism” (canon 893 §2).
Why the difference? The answer seems to be only one of sign value. On one hand, different sponsors signify the distinction between these sacraments. On the other hand, choosing the same sponsor signifies the inseparable “unity of Christian initiation” (Catechism, no. 1292). Due to the multiplication of Baptisms, the bishop could not preside over them all. In order to reserve Confirmation to the bishop, the conferral of Baptism and Confirmation were separated (Catechism, no 1290). It is still the practice of the Eastern Catholic Churches to administer all three sacraments of initiation together. In the Latin Church, it would seem that the encouragement (not mandate) in the current law to maintain the same sponsor for both Baptism and Confirmation is to accentuate the unity of Christian initiation.
I hope this answers your question. If you have further questions on this or would like more information about Catholics United for the Faith, please contact us at 1-800-MY-FAITH (693-2484). Please keep us in your prayers as we endeavor to “support, defend, and advance the efforts of the teaching Church.”
United in the Faith,
David E. Utsler
Information Specialist
Catholics United for the Faith
827 North Fourth Street
Steubenville, OH 43952
800-MY-FAITH (800-693-2484)
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