Hi everyone, I have posted here before under Chaira but have forgotten my info, so I had to create a new account.

Anyways, I have a question, my cousin just had a baby in Italy and we both would like for me to baptize him, but she just told me that this might be a problem, as I have yet to be Confirmed. (I know, bad Catholic!) But I’m thinking this might be a problem for them as well, as they are not married! Anyone know anything about these types of regulations? I have been living in the US for 18+ years now, and I sometimes forget how strict they can be there about such things….

Thanks in advance!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Chiara77,

I'm certainly not an expert on the subject, but I had the same fears when both of my children were babtized in my husband's church in Napoli. I'm not even Catholic and I was terrified someone was going to point that out or at least ask me something about my religious upbringing. No one ever said anything about it and in the end I worried a lot about nothing. Hope that helps in some way. Good luck!

Baptism is the first scrament. It can't have any requirements or they couldn't get anybody new into the club.

Are you saying they were married without being confirmed?

I guess it's up to the priest to decide if he'll allow you to be the godmother.

Hi Nick,

I think you misread my question.

The young couple (she being my cousin) who had the baby are confirmed and not married. I would like to be the Godmother of the baby, but I am not confirmed.

I think the priest could refuse you. The child is fine. The parents might get talking to. But I can't see any priest refusing the child.

What I've seen with friends, our kids and some relatives is that the church wants the family to have a good relationship with the church, so they may need help from family members who do if they don't. Having a good relationship with the church just means they are serious or the family is serious and not just doing it for other reasons.

Baptizing a baby is not so much about getting rid of sins (does a baby have any, I don't think so), it's about welcoming a baby into the christian family and about a family that will raise the child within the faith until he is old enough to make up his own mind - be confirmed. This is what some people don't understand and why the church is a bit fussy about it.

I guess I should have said that I do know of priests who have refused to baptize a baby, for the reasons I stated. They don't usually go for people even catholics walking in off the street wanting their baby baptized. It's not just about getting new members in the club, though it is a good one to join. You know getting into heaven has to have it's advantages. Nick I see the humor in your comments and humor is always good, unless of course you offend Mohammed, now that can get you into trouble. I'm just glad Jesus has a sense of humor and an open mind, though I hope he wasn't paying attention when I wrote those comments about tight jeans and the bottoms of Italian women, well they are one of God's better creations - you gotta love good work.

My daughter was baptised 2 years ago at the ripe ole age of 8!

My experience was that the priest didn't give a ratsbehind about us (the parents) but
he did interview the god parents to make sure they were fit - they had to bring certificates from their local church stating that they were fine upstanding catholics - and I think a certificate stating that they had been baptised.

Thanks for the replies....

I guess I'm hoping that they find a priest in Rome who is willing to overlook that they are not married and me not confirmed!