Asked to be Godparent - help!

[Anonymous]

It's going to be diocese by diocese. My Catholic SIL wants us to be godparents. I was raised Catholic but left for the Anglican church. Her priest says it's fine. And I have no problem respecting and reinforcing Catholic traditions chosen by my in-laws, even if that isn't my personal faith journey.

I guess what I'm saying is that it's possible to take that pledge and mean it without being a practicing Catholic yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This is us. The ILs just would NOT STFU about it. DH finally caved. I disagreed but to us it was just a little water. Kid is now 10 and has has never attended a church service other than a wedding or two. We chose friends as godparents and both were raised Catholic but neither of their own kids are even baptized lol. We explained the situation and they were happy to help. We intentionally didn’t choose any of DHs ultra Catholic sibs because we knew they might take their duties seriously and it would just lead to more harassment down the road. If the church doesn’t want people to lie then they should get a handle on their followers and tell them to stop pressuring atheists into this stuff- I mean really what is the point!? I’m sure there are tons and tons of people like us out there.

I don’t think it’s the Church you can’t say no to - it’s your MIL! They aren’t tracking you down to baptize your child at all. You just aren’t solid enough in your own principles to stand up to your ILs.

Yes you are darn right about that!! Though I wonder if you know how truly bad some religious people can be.

It stinks for atheists. If you cave and “just do it” you are unprincipled and if you refuse then you are “breaking your mothers heart” etc. It is really easy to judge from behind a screen. We had 100% of DHs family absolutely PISSED at us and barely speaking to us because “FIL can’t sleep at night, all MIL does is cry” etc. I am completely serious. If we had not caved and done it, there would’ve been a rift with that entire side of the family, I have no doubt. They are in the minority...but there are people like this out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It stinks for atheists. If you cave and “just do it” you are unprincipled

Wrong. You are simply respecting other's beliefs, like when a christian is a guest at a seder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It stinks for atheists. If you cave and “just do it” you are unprincipled

Wrong. You are simply respecting other's beliefs, like when a christian is a guest at a seder.

Well, not really. Baptizing a child doesn’t equate to “attending a Seder”. A better comparison would be baptism=bris.

That said, a lot of families sure don’t see it that way. My ILs view was “I don’t care that you do not believe. You must baptize out of respect for the Catholics in the family. If you do not, you are disrespecting the family and slapping your parents in the face, and this is unforgivable” Not the Church’s view...but strangely they do not care about what Church thinks. It is what it is. But that is why atheists do these rituals, even on their own kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It stinks for atheists. If you cave and “just do it” you are unprincipled

Wrong. You are simply respecting other's beliefs, like when a christian is a guest at a seder.

Well, not really. Baptizing a child doesn’t equate to “attending a Seder”. A better comparison would be baptism=bris.

That said, a lot of families sure don’t see it that way. My ILs view was “I don’t care that you do not believe. You must baptize out of respect for the Catholics in the family. If you do not, you are disrespecting the family and slapping your parents in the face, and this is unforgivable” Not the Church’s view...but strangely they do not care about what Church thinks. It is what it is. But that is why atheists do these rituals, even on their own kids.

Well then they shouldn't ask people with different beliefs to participate.

But if they do, then there is no problem whatsoever, and no one should try and create one where it doesn't exist.