Pastoral Response to the Challenges of Parents’ Choice of Unqualified and Non-Practicing Persons as Godparents
Abstract
Pastoral Response to the Challenges of Parents’ Choice of Unqualified and Non-Practicing Persons as Godparents.The longstanding custom of choosing godparents for those baptized in the Roman Catholic Church poses challenges in my ministry as a priest, especially when I am preparing parents for their children's baptism in the parish. When the discussion for the choice of godparents comes up during the registration for baptism, it often evokes challenges that originate from the criteria used in the Church to select godparents.It becomes evident during the discussion that the requirements set forth by the law of the Roman Catholic Church sometimes conflict with the understanding of parents regarding who they can select as godparents for their children. This research is therefore designed not only to discuss the law of the Church but also to gather information from parents on how they choose godparents for their children.Furthermore, we shall discuss whether they agree with the requirements laid out in the laws of the Church or have their criteria for who they believe is qualified to be a godparent for their child. Hopefully, the study results will help pastoral ministers understand in practice the thinking of parents on this subject matter and how those called to serve can respond by journeying with the parents in developing a better understanding of the role of godparents as an essential practice of our faith experience. Additionally, the Church can also learn from these findings. If possible, parents' concerns regarding the selection of godparents can be factored into any future revision of the criteria.
Subject Area
Religious education
Recommended Citation
Asagba, Francis Kwame, "Pastoral Response to the Challenges of Parents’ Choice of Unqualified and Non-Practicing Persons as Godparents" (2021). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI28410268.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI28410268
