The Archbishop of Catania points out that many of the candidates for godparents are living in irregular family situations.
Newsroom (24/10/2021 11:05, Gaudium Press) It is a decree that is perhaps unprecedented in history: the Archbishop of Catania in Sicily, Msgr. Salvatore Gristina, has suspended the appointment of baptism and confirmation godparents for three years.
The reason for the suspension? Though controversial – but no less real – the prelate alludes to the “irregular family situations of many people” who are nominated as godparents and who violate in various ways the canonical requirements of this high mission.
“The secular tradition of the Church says that the godfather or godmother accompanies the baptized or confirmed person so that they can help him or her on the journey of faith,” Monsignor Gristina wrote in the decree “ad experimentum e ad triennium” (for a trial period of three years). How is one to help his pupil in the many difficulties present today in their journey of faith, if, after all, the godparents do not have faith, or a solid faith, or if the Faith is not manifested in their lives?
More important than being present at the Baptism is being a beacon for the faith of the baptized
What is more important than the participation of the godparents in the Rite of Baptism is that they fulfil the essential elements of the task entrusted to them, says the Archbishop.
The relationship between the Catholic Faith and the life one leads is important, so a good godfather must lead “a life of faith in accordance with the function he is going to assume”.
In fact, Monsignor Gristina recalls, Canon Law does not require the presence of a godfather for the administration of these Sacraments, although it recommends it.
The decree announcing the ‘moratorium’ on godparents came into effect on 1 October. The Archbishop’s decision was also based on a consultation with the Presbyteral Council, which gave a majority opinion in its favour.
“We hope that things will change and that those who are about to become godfathers or godmothers will do so because they have the intention to be witnesses of a journey of faith,” stressed Msgr. Salvatore Genchi, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Catania.
With CNA information
Compiled by Sandra Chisholm
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