Does a Godparent's Religion Matter?

April 7, 2008

Rumor has it that Tom Cruise may end up playing godfather to Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony's twins, Max and Emme Muniz.

While the babies will be raised Catholic like their parents, Tom is a passionate Scientologist.

Would you consider godparents of a different faith for your children?

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34 Comments

3 years 38 weeks

Oops I meant to say "What does it hurt to teach the kids to work with all Christian denominations?" As in we support cooperation and inter-faith ministries.

3 years 38 weeks

In our church, only one of the godparents has to be Catholic. However, the other one should be committed to raising the kids Catholic, even if they aren't Catholic themselves. We have some non Catholic godparents. They all agreed to support a Catholic upbringing for my children. They join us for special masses, and still attend their own churches. It does hurt to teach the kids to work with all Christian denominations. Our church has interfaith ministries. Get together and do some good for the world.

3 years 51 weeks

One thing I don't like about the Catholic church are priests that can be bought and rules can be changed if you have MONEY! Tom Cruise isn't even Christian, yet he was allowed to be a God Father. WTF is up with that?!

nyss07 5 years 3 weeks

Roman Catholic Church In the Roman Catholic church, only church members who have undergone Confirmation are accepted as godparents. Someone who belongs to another Christian denomination cannot become a godparent but is known as a Christian Witness, with most of the regular role of a godparent. Non-Christians are not at all eligible to any religious role formalized by the Church. This is based on the view that the godparent-godchild relationship is not something which is just between the persons and God, but a whole-Church event wherein the Holy Spirit dwells. A Godparent prays for the newly baptized, looks after them spiritually and gives them guidance. The Catholic Church sees Baptism as an entry into the Kingdom of God, and entry into the Church. I have been dealing w/this b/c of my husband's family is all Catholic & some of the newly added members are not apart of any church but want to be a God Parent.

nyss07 5 years 3 weeks

Roman Catholic ChurchIn the Roman Catholic church, only church members who have undergone Confirmation are accepted as godparents. Someone who belongs to another Christian denomination cannot become a godparent but is known as a Christian Witness, with most of the regular role of a godparent. Non-Christians are not at all eligible to any religious role formalized by the Church. This is based on the view that the godparent-godchild relationship is not something which is just between the persons and God, but a whole-Church event wherein the Holy Spirit dwells.A Godparent prays for the newly baptized, looks after them spiritually and gives them guidance. The Catholic Church sees Baptism as an entry into the Kingdom of God, and entry into the Church.I have been dealing w/this b/c of my husband's family is all Catholic & some of the newly added members are not apart of any church but want to be a God Parent.

crazyana 5 years 6 weeks

well in the PEOPLE interview Jennifer said that they sure baptized the twins.and they def will be raised CATHOLIC and bilingual!english and spanish. i dont think they will choose TOM as godparent but maybe...they know them well cuz they are frns!

crazyana 5 years 6 weeks

well in the PEOPLE interview Jennifer said that they sure baptized the twins.and they def will be raised CATHOLIC and bilingual!english and spanish.i dont think they will choose TOM as godparent but maybe...they know them well cuz they are frns!

sfprgirl 5 years 6 weeks

Coming from a religious family with a Christian upbringing, I can understand why people would look for God parents with similar religious views. However, when it comes time for me to choose God parents, I will be looking for someone that can love my child unconditionally, will support them and be a source of spiritual and emotional inspiration. "God" to me, doesn't mean religion. It's a spiritual feeling and I will choose God parents that echo the sentiment.

sfprgirl 5 years 6 weeks

Coming from a religious family with a Christian upbringing, I can understand why people would look for God parents with similar religious views.However, when it comes time for me to choose God parents, I will be looking for someone that can love my child unconditionally, will support them and be a source of spiritual and emotional inspiration."God" to me, doesn't mean religion. It's a spiritual feeling and I will choose God parents that echo the sentiment.

sashak 5 years 6 weeks

In the traditional sence, a god-parent is supposed to guide the child in matters of faith & spirit if the parents are unable to do so. From Wiki: In the Roman Catholic church, only church members who have undergone Confirmation are accepted as godparents. Someone who belongs to another Christian denomination cannot become a godparent but is known as a Christian Witness, with most of the regular role of a godparent. Non-Christians are not at all eligible to any religious role formalized by the Church. That doesn't say anything about just one or both needing to be Catholic, but it sure does count TinyTom out

sashak 5 years 6 weeks

In the traditional sence, a god-parent is supposed to guide the child in matters of faith & spirit if the parents are unable to do so.From Wiki:<i>In the Roman Catholic church, only church members who have undergone Confirmation are accepted as godparents. Someone who belongs to another Christian denomination cannot become a godparent but is known as a Christian Witness, with most of the regular role of a godparent. Non-Christians are not at all eligible to any religious role formalized by the Church.</i>That doesn't say anything about just one or both needing to be Catholic, but it sure does count TinyTom out

hausfrau 5 years 6 weeks

I'm disappointed in the watering down of the term godparent... It seems like it gets thrown around too much and doesn't have much to do with its real meaning, which is to help guide a child on their spiritual journey, not just any tom, dick, or harry who cares about your child.

anniekim 5 years 6 weeks

I'd think if you are not religious you wouldn't have "god"parents for your child at all. If you are religious then wouldn't you want your kids to gain spiritual guidance from someone who shares your core beliefs? Maybe not exactly the same, but similar.

Jessiebanana 5 years 6 weeks

Aaah the joys of being agnostic...not having to deal with this bs. I think the "godparents" of your children should be people who love you and your family and have a genuine interest in partaking in the well being of your child/children.

Twinkle 5 years 6 weeks

I have a feeling JLo is going to come out as a Scientologist at some point so in that case the godfather is from the same cult..I mean religion.

orisugar 5 years 6 weeks

I don't really see a godparent falling under religion at all. Maybe because I am a non religious person..I don't know. I see a godparent as someone guiding your child, caring for him/her and providing reassurance when need be- and i don't really see religion playing a part in any of those things. But I would hesitate to ask someone to be a godparent if they were super-nutso religious. I wouldn't want that kind of influence on my kid. But a little bit religious is okay.

LiLRuck44 5 years 6 weeks

I said "other". Each denomination has their own requirements. Some just require a member of the church (committed to bringing the child up Christian), which I suppose could mean the extended church family. People use the term very loosely now anyway.

duck duck goose 5 years 6 weeks

(Ooops -- didn't mean to capitalize "parents." Sorry; I hate bad grammar.)

duck duck goose 5 years 6 weeks

"Does a Godparent's Religion Matter?" Only if it matters to the Parents. (Seems like a personal choice to me.) Parents could choose to appoint someone as a guardian over their children's spiritual well-being, while naming another as legal (custodial) guardian in the event of their own deaths. (This is not the most practical choice, but it could work.)

duck duck goose 5 years 6 weeks

"Does a Godparent's Religion Matter?"Only if it matters to the Parents. (Seems like a personal choice to me.) Parents could choose to appoint someone as a guardian over their children's spiritual well-being, while naming another as legal (custodial) guardian in the event of their own deaths. (This is not the most practical choice, but it could work.)

Greggie 5 years 6 weeks

"If you are baptizing your child Catholic the godparents have to be Catholic. If it is true that Tom Cruise will be the twins godfather then they must not be baptizing them in the Catholic church." This is untrue. Catholic doctrine states that at least one godparent must be a confirmed, practicing Catholic. The others are technically Christian witnesses, but are often referred to as godparents. Certain parishes may require that both godparents be Catholic, which is up to them. But the overall doctrine requires only one. We have three children, all baptised in the Catholic church (or the third will be in two weeks) and none of them have all Catholic godparents. They each have one who is and one (or in the case of my oldest and youngest, two) who are either no religion at all or lapsed Catholics.

Greggie 5 years 6 weeks

"If you are baptizing your child Catholic the godparents have to be Catholic. If it is true that Tom Cruise will be the twins godfather then they must not be baptizing them in the Catholic church."This is untrue. Catholic doctrine states that at least one godparent must be a confirmed, practicing Catholic. The others are technically Christian witnesses, but are often referred to as godparents. Certain parishes may require that both godparents be Catholic, which is up to them. But the overall doctrine requires only one.We have three children, all baptised in the Catholic church (or the third will be in two weeks) and none of them have all Catholic godparents. They each have one who is and one (or in the case of my oldest and youngest, two) who are either no religion at all or lapsed Catholics.

luvhouse07 5 years 6 weeks

I don't think it matters, as long as the person ISN'T Tom Cruise...

TwistandShout 5 years 6 weeks

Richard Dawkins said "There is no such thing as a Christian child, only a child of Christian parents." It goes the same for every other religion. Nuff said.

TwistandShout 5 years 6 weeks

Richard Dawkins said "There is no such thing as a Christian child, only a child of Christian parents." It goes the same for every other religion.Nuff said.

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