CHAPTER IV
: SPONSORS
Can.
872 In so far as possible, a person being baptised is to be assigned a sponsor.
In the case of an adult baptism, the sponsor's role is to assist the person in
christian initiation. In the case of an infant baptism, the role is together
with the parents to present the child for baptism, and to help it to live a
christian life befitting the baptised and faithfully to fulfil the duties
inherent in baptism.
Can.
873 One sponsor, male or female, is sufficient; but there may be two, one of
each sex.
Can.
874 §1 To be admitted to undertake the office of sponsor, a person must:
1° be
appointed by the candidate for baptism, or by the parents or whoever stands in
their place, or failing these, by the parish priest or the minister; to be
appointed the person must be suitable for this role and have the intention of
fulfilling it;
2° be not
less than sixteen years of age, unless a different age has been stipulated by
the diocesan Bishop, or unless the parish priest or the minister considers that
there is a just reason for an exception to be made;
3° be a
catholic who has been confirmed and has received the blessed Eucharist, and who
lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken;
4° not
labour under a canonical penalty, whether imposed or declared;
5° not be
either the father or the mother of the person to be baptised.
§2 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.
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