It changes the spiritual character of a person forever, and the mark of transformation is so permanent that it is indelible; it can never be erased. A. The godparent name is entered into the parish record book as the “official” godparent or sponsor for baptism. No! Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, and it has powerful and long-lasting effects. Although a Catholic doesn’t believe something has to be explicit in the Bible in order to believe it, Scripture does witness to the necessity of baptism for salvation. If the Godparents are from out of town, they can attend a class at their own parish. The Christian should witness to the world and to other Christians that he is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, that he is a new creature in Christ Jesus. What follows is a concise list of nine of the most important effects and benefits of the sacrament of baptism. There has to be at least one Godparent (a Catholic); the second can be a witness (non-Catholic), and these must consist of a male and a female. The role of the godparent for baptism is rooted in the role of the sponsor in the catechumenate, which originated in the early Church. (e.g., Anglican, United, Presbyterian, etc.) A good example of this is baptism because the Bible teaches about baptism. Infant baptism, however, is practiced because the tradition of the church has done it this way for over 1,000 years. A Christian witness is a baptized Christian and a member of a non-Catholic ecclesial community. Sponsors must be Catholic: “a baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community may not be admitted except as a witness to baptism and together with a Catholic sponsor ” (Canon 874.2). A member of the Eastern Orthodox Church may serve as a godparent if there is a Catholic godparent. In the Catholic Church, infants are baptized to welcome them into the Catholic faith and to free them from the original sin they were born with. A non-baptized person cannot be a witness (Code of Canon Law, cc. Further, the witness of the earliest Christian practices and writings must once and for all silence those who criticize the Catholic Church’s teaching on infant baptism. Can there be just two witnesses? But many Protestants claim this belief unbiblical. A Christian witness is a witness to the Baptism, not a godparent. Baptism is the first holy sacrament followed by: Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the sick, Marriage and […] Baptism is the one sacrament that all Christian denominations share in common. 3. 1273 Incorporated into the Church by Baptism, the faithful have received the sacramental character that consecrates them for Christian religious worship. Families desiring to have a child baptized at St. Joseph's can pick up an information packet and Baptism Application from the parish office. Recall that until the year 313, the Church was under the persecution of the Roman Empire and had to be cautious in conducting its affairs so … WATER BAPTISM A WITNESS TO THE WORLD DOES THE BIBLE TEACH SUCH A DOCTRINE? Q. What do we have to do in order to set the date for the celebration of Baptism? There can only be two witnesses to the Sacrament of Baptism. Many practices are allowed or forbidden based on the tradition of the church. Godparents (and Christian Witnesses) also must attend. 872-874; Catechism of the Catholic Church 1255). The history of the practices of the Roman Catholic church. As Catholics, we believe that baptism is “necessary for salvation” because “God has bound salvation to the sacrament” (CCC 1257). That parish can send a letter to Christ the King confirming that the Godparent did attend a Baptism class there. 3. A baptized person who belongs to another Christian community may be admitted only as a “Christian witness” (not a godparent) provided that there is at least one Roman Catholic godparent who fulfills the above criteria. Ephesians 2:10. A non-Catholic baptized Christian can participate in the Rite of Baptism as a “Christian witness,” however a Catholic godparent must also be present. The Christian is God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works.