Ok, looking at what George has supplied us in another post here is what the Code of Canon Law 1917 stated on the subject of Sponsors for Baptism and Confirmation:
BAPTISM 609. In order that one may licitly act as sponsor, he must: 1. be fourteen years of age, unless for a just reason the minister admits younger ones; 2. he must not be under excommunication for a notorious crime, nor excluded from legal actions, nor suffer from infamy of law, even though no sentence was pronounced against him in the ecclesiastical court, nor must he be under an interdict, or otherwise a public criminal, or disgraced by infamy of fact; 3. he must know the rudiments of the faith; 4. he must not be a novice or professed member in any religious organization, unless there is no other to act as sponsor and permission is granted by at least the local superior; 5. he must not be in sacred orders, unless he has the express permission of his own Ordinary to act as sponsor. (Canon 766.) 610. In doubtful cases as to whether one can validly or licitly be admitted as sponsor, the pastor should, if time permits, consult the Ordinary. (Canon 767.) CONFIRMATION CHAPTER IV. The Sponsors. 636. By a most ancient custom the Church requires a sponsor at Confirmation, if one can be had. (Canon 793.) 637. The sponsor should not stand for more than two, except the minister for a just reason allow him to stand for more. No candidate for Confirmation should have more than one sponsor. (Canon 794.) 638. In order that one may validly act as sponsor, he must: 1. be confirmed himself, have the use of reason and the intention to act as sponsor; 2. not belong to an heretical or schismatic sect, nor be under any of the penalties spoken of in Canon 765, n. 2, by a declaratory or condemnatory sentence; 3. not be the father, mother of, or married to, the one confirmed; 4. be designated by the one to be confirmed, or by his parents, guardians, or in their default or refusal to designate a sponsor, the minister or the pastor may designate him. 5. physically touch either in person or through a proxy the one confirmed in the very act of Confirmation. (Canon 795.) 639. The requirements for licit sponsorship are: 1. he should not be the sponsor of Baptism, unless there is a good reason which is left to the judgment of the minister of Confirmation, or unless Confirmation is given immediately after Baptism; 2. he should be of the same sex as the one confirmed, unless the minister allows an exception in particular cases and for good reasons; 3. he must have the other requisites mentioned for Baptism in Canon 766. ( Canon 796. ) Up until the 1917 code the church had collections of law that were changed and added to by every Pope. The first set-in-soft-cement set of rules was the 1917 code, which was then revised in 1983. Roman law is more flexible than English/American law so it is always open to interpretation and that's why it can vary from diocese to diocese and even from priest to priest. I hope this helps — and thanks George for finding the document I was looking for! Joanne Grota Mercier > On Feb 9, 2016, at 2:53 PM, George Medeiros <migueldeav...@gmail.com> wrote: > > The Roman Catholic Church has hundreds of Canon laws and Canon lawyers. Like > the secular legal system not all laws are understood clearly and when there > are questions about what one can and can not do within the legal system one > contacts a lawyer. When in question, if I understand it correctly, most > clerics are not church lawyers and they would pose their questions to the > Bishop's Office and Canon lawyers may or may not be consulted. > > The question about Canon law in 1600's is a good one and we do have to be > careful about applying today's standards to a earlier time. Just in the last > 50 years the Catholic Church has made many changes, like for example allowing > annulments in marriage,and just look at what Pope Francis is trying to get > the Cardinals and Bishops to look at in regards to contemporary social issues > like divorce and remarriage. Some issues are left to the judgement of the > local pastor who has the job of listening to each person's individual > situation. Thus I am sure those of us from a catholic background have seen > different decisions made in regards to similar situations. George > > > > Sent from my iPad > > On Feb 9, 2016, at 10:44 AM, "\"E\" Sharp" <bellema...@gmail.com > <mailto:bellema...@gmail.com>> wrote: > >> I don't know about Canon law, etc. but 15 years ago when my last grandson >> was born his parents wanted his older brother 12 and sister 14 to be the >> godparents and the priest at the church gave them a emphatic "no." They had >> to be at least 16. >> >> "E" >> >> >> -- >> For options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail >> (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/Azores >> <http://groups.google.com/group/Azores>. 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