My sister asked me today to be the god-father to her 6 month old baby. Of course I said yes and feel privileged in a way to be asked, but now I am left wondering what it means for me. My uncle stood for me when I was a kid, but I only saw him about once every 2 or 3 years growing up. What are my duties and responsibilities now to my nephew?
You're going to stand in the church and promise to reject Satan and pledge to guide your godchild in religion
I don't see how this differs from standing in a field and pledging to the sun god that you will reject that evil moon god. Oh, how I dislike that moon god.
What is important is that you are there for the child. That might be questions about religion or more likely questions about "where were you when ..." More likely though it will be presents.
If you have to play along for the sake of others then do. Afterall, you will get plenty of practice when you are playing along with the Santa Claus and tooth fairy myths.
You're going to stand in the church and promise to reject Satan and pledge to guide your godchild in religion
Seriously, back out
You are a hypocrite, well you will be if you do it
Are you realy going to take those vows? You shouldn't take a vow lightly
Just to get back to the question posed by the OP: Apart from the religious duties the best godparents give their time to the child. Showering your nephew with expensive gifts is all very well but often a few hours at the cinema or having him stay overnight at your place (when older) mean so much to a child. (and the tired parents).
I do reject Satan! If he really exists which I highly doubt.
But seriously, I pretty much agree with you. I do feel I shouldn't be promising to guide a child in religion when I think it's all tosh. Having said that, I don't know a single god parent who has anything to do with their god child's religious upbringing bar standing as a sponsor when confirmation rolls around. It has developed into a different kind of relationship with the emphasis on pressies at Christmas etc. Not saying that's good or bad. It doesn't bother me as I don't believe but it's clearly not what is intended by the church for that Godparent / child relationship.
Having said all that, I have felt slightly bereft since withdrawing my own son from his religion class. As if I have given up something; maybe a sense of community or identity or belonging to a tradition. I used to quite like the feeling of coming together on the rare occasions I would visit a church. Not a spiritual thing as such.
Either way I am sure I did the right thing. The institution is rotten. Going through the motions of belonging to the Catholic Church while lambasting it over the scandals and it's dealings with us is the most hypocritical of all. We only show then, that they can do what they like and we will take it. It will be a shame to lose the valuable part of the Church in our lives if the hierarchy can't / won't see that the Church is it's people and they are only facilitators.
A.
To be honest I think it is so selfish of you to withdraw your son from communion class and not allow him to make his first holy communion (despite the hypocritism of baptising him into the faith but then changing your mind) What you should do is allow him to make his sacraments - communion and confirmation - and then make up his own mind as an adult about what he wants to practise. You are ramming your own views down his throat by force? You don't agree so therefore he has to be different from the rest of his class? You disapprove so you are using your child to make your stand? He is your son and you are not giving him his religion and allowing him to choose.
If I was your sister I would withdraw my offer but certainly in your case I can't believe you would go ahead.
When your son is an adult and maybe tells you that he felt ostracised as a child because you didn't allow him make his communion (a huge part of the school year for him this year in class) and that he doesn't know why you used him to make your point and then became a godmother the same year, well I hope you have some answer for him then.
I'm truly sorry if this all seems very harsh but I am in shock at using your son to make your point. My parents had many kids, we all had the sacraments and then as adults decided for ourselves whether to go to Mass or not.
"His Religion". He doesn't have a religion he's 7. He learns what I teach him as does every other child.
A.
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