What are the conditions regarding the admission of a Christian Witness to the baptism of a Catholic child?
A. 1. The Christian Witness, as the godparent / sponsor, must meet some conditions. – He cannot be a Catholic. (A ex-Catholic is still a Catholic, one who is under canonical penalty, having been excommunicated, therefore not in good standing with the Catholic Church.) – He must be at least 16 years of age. – He must be validly baptized. (A baptised person who belongs to a non-catholic ecclesial community may be admitted only in company with a catholic sponsor, and then simply as a witness to the baptism.) [Canon # 874.2] – He must be living an upright life. – He cannot be the mother or the father of the person to be baptized. [Canon Law # 874.1.5] – He cannot labour under a canonical penalty, whether imposed or declared.
