You dont simply get baptised just to become godparents. To become Godparents you must promise that you will be there to care for the childs spiritual needs. To help to keep them on the straight and narrow. If you dont believe in the religion that the child is to be christened in then its best you not be godparents

I think your best friend should take into account your own religions or not as the case may be and ask others to be the godparents if their faith requires a person to be baptised to become a godparent. The role is to make sure the child is brought up according to the faith, not for the godparent to be of the faith. Many people take on this role more vehemently than those who are of the faith.

No one should have religion forced upon them – no one.

I’m not sure you are being put in a fair situation by your friend.

this seems extreme to request someone get baptised or they won’t be godparents.

It’s lovely that they want you to be the godmother of their child but I think they have to respect your beliefs if you don’t want to get baptised. Obviously it means a lot to the parents but they need to think about the whole process and what’s involved in asking someone who isn’t baptised in the church which they belong.
My hubby is belongs to the Orthodox church and I’ve been baptised in another church. We didn’t have a church wedding and our children are yet to be baptised as we can’t agree on which church they should be baptised in. This has caused a few arguments from his side of the family who expect the kids to be baptised Orthodox. I have also been told that any godparents need to be christened Orthodox too. The kids potential godparents aren’t Orthodox and I would refuse to even ask them to get baptised Orthodox just to be my children’s godparents.
As a result our kids will be waiting until they are old enough to decide which church, if any they want to be baptised in.

I am a non-baptised godmother to my Catholic goddaughter. Never been an issue!

Not a fair request. They should respect your wishes.

Yes, it is totally unfair to ask someone to be baptized for your purpose. I was asked to be a sponsor for my friend’s daughter and they simply explained the parts that I could not participate in as I wasn’t baptized. They were surprised to learn that I was, so it didn’t matter!

At least one godparent needs to be Catholic, which is generally the requirement from the church. I’m saying that I’m pretty sure it’s only recommended. Either way she’s asked and you said no. If she feels so strongly about it she has the right to choose someone else that’s Catholic as a godparent.

I don’t think this is a fair request from your friend at all. I was baptised Catholic but I am not practicing and I am my best friend’s babies godmother and she never asked me anything about my religion.

Become a catholic join all the priests in the newspapers and let them do to you what they have done to their flock sounds good.
Be strong and stand up for your own values.
If you are wanted it should be that you are a good choice as you are
Would it be different if they asked you dye your hair green and only eat muffins

That is a tricky one. You friend obviously really trusts and values you to even ask the question.
Although I always thought that only one of the two godparents has to be baptised (this being a requirement of the church). So one godparent can not be baptised but the other has to be. So your friend could pick one of her catholic friends (or family) and one of he closed not baptised friends.

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  • • Ellen replied
    • 20 Nov 2022 , 8:49 am

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  That’s a good suggestion Mom362496

I do think your friend is putting you in an unfair situation.

That’s incredibly unfair. You can’t have someone change their beliefs to suit you.

Wow what a terrible position to put you in! I completely understand people having religion in their lives but it is not something you can force on others!

Yes, it’s unfair to ask you to be baptised. On the other hand, in hte Catholic church, Godparents are committing to raising the child in the religion if anything happens to the parents. So are you prepared for that committment?

I don’t think she is fair asking you both get baptised. Try to speak to both parents and explain that it’s not something you are willing to do. Your best friend knew that you weren’t religious or baptised before this.

Wow, that’s asking a lot of your friends, particularly if they don’t want to be baptised because of their own faiths/beliefs. I’m Catholic and have asked two friends to be godmothers to my baby girl and neither are Catholic. I don’t have an issue with this and would never ask them to be baptised!!

Surely you can still be a godparent even if you aren’t catholic. The girls shouldn’t need to go through a baptism themselves.