Roman Catholic Godparents in Greek and Antiochian Parishes

[Maria]

Why do some (many/all) Greek and Antiochian Orthodox churches allow for one godparent to be a Roman Catholic?

I know also one world orthodox parish in Paris where it happens too... I think the question is not only ecclesiological but also has a link with what people think about baptism. For many people, independently of their religion, baptism is a mundane event where you invite friends, family for a party, the baptism only being a pretext to meet, eat and so on. In such a mundane context. If you read books about proper behaviour written in the 19th century in France, you would be suprised how baptism was already a mundane event. It is only about who inviting, which gifts etc. It becomes natural that the criteria for choosing a godfather is mundane. Choosing the best friend and so on. The great cause is the loss of the religious dimension of baptism in the mind of people (the same happens with wedding).

Exactly, my son and his wife chose virtually non-practicing Orthodox Christians to become sponsors for my granddaughter.
They did not want to offend their in-laws. And yes, party it was with lots of party dresses that would probably never be worn,
but instead, returned to the store to purchase things that were more desperately needed.

Certainly, there was very little focus on the Baptism, but much more focus on the party.
I wish it were the other way around.

[Maria]

Both GOA and Antiochian websites have guidelines for baptismal sponsors. The GOA site says the following:

BAPTISMS

A person who wishes to sponsor a candidate for Baptism or Chrismation must be an Orthodox Christian in good standing and a supporting member of an Orthodox parish. A person may not serve as a godparent if his or her marriage has not been blessed by the Church or, if civilly divorced, he or she has not been granted an ecclesiastical divorce, or for any other reason he or she is not in communion with the Orthodox Church.

http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/depar ... s/pastoral

The Antiochian website says:

At least one of the godparents (the sponsor) should be an Orthodox Christian in good standing with the Church.

http://www.antiochian.org/midwest/holy- ... hrismation

Wow! I just reread again the Antiochian statement which seems heavily influenced by the Balamand Agreement, with which both the Greek and the Antiochian Church lamentably agreed. It is this Balamand Agreement which has introduced or solidified many non-canonical practices which have been ongoing or introduced since the 1920s.

"At lease ONE of the godparents (the sponsor) should be an Orthodox Christian in good standing with the Church."

So this very statement allows a non-Orthodox Christian (a Protestant or Catholic relative, for example) to serve as a godparent. Technically, these non-Orthodox sponsors are usually NOT allowed to stand at the font and assist with the baptism of the child or adult (anoint the catechumen with olive oil) but they do stand in the Narthex of the church with the catechumen when the exorcisms and reading of the Creed takes place. Nevertheless, I have seen the Roman Catholic godparent at the font participating with the Orthodox Christian godparent. Therefore, the impression given by having a non-Orthodox Christian sponsor is certainly wrong as it creates the illusion that all religions are equal and that we already have intercommunion.

Case in point, one Roman Catholic Godparent mentioned that she would be taking the child to receive communion at her Roman Catholic church, and that even though the child received Holy Communion at her/her baptism, the Roman Catholic godparent would see to it that he/she would receive First Holy Communion at the hand of a Catholic priest. When I mentioned to the Orthodox Priest in a vague way (so as not to identify the Roman Catholic) her intent on permitting the newly baptized to have intercommunion, he became incensed with me, and told me that many are already allowed to have intercommunion, and that I had better learn to accept it. He said that many Catholic-Orthodox spouses are regularly communed at both Catholic and Orthodox Churches. And like Elder Ephraim, his spiritual father, he urged me to be silent about the matter, and pray for my own salvation.

This is insidious. These Orthodox priests are preparing the way for a false reunion because intercommunion with Roman Catholics and Eastern Catholics IS in fact already taking place.

[ANGELA]

Maria hi,

I am from Australia and Greek Orthodox, and have never heard a Greek Orthodox priest even allowing Holy Communion to be given to any other denomination.

It is forbidden and not allowed, nor is a orthodox allowed to partake Holy Communion any were else, only in the Orthodox Parish.

Angela

[Maria]

Maria hi,

I am from Australia and Greek Orthodox, and have never heard a Greek Orthodox priest even allowing Holy Communion to be given to any other denomination.

It is forbidden and not allowed, nor is a orthodox allowed to partake Holy Communion any were else, only in the Orthodox Parish.

Angela

An Eastern Catholic Deacon who was engaged in international marketing told me that a Greek Orthodox Priest allowed him to receive Holy Communion whenever this deacon visited Australia. Perhaps things have now changed, as this took place between the years of 1993 to 1998.

[ANGELA]

To my knowledge I know this should never be allowed, and there is no time frame. It is not allowed. But I can understand your concern.

Perhaps he should of reported this to the Greek Archdiocese of Australia?

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese are very strict concerning this matter. And besides, it is best not to believe everything you hear. We also have community churches, which were not part of the Greek Archdiocese and maybe that is were he went.

And besides it sounds a little odd, that he didnt attend his own denomination, here in Australia?

[timothyvargas]

To my knowledge I know this should never be allowed, and there is no time frame. It is not allowed...

Hello Angela,

We understand that what you have been lead to believe is that your Archdiocese is more strict than their leader, the Patriarch of Turkey (EP), which appears to hold a different confession of faith than yourself? These official documents have never been retracted, which acknowledge the validity of priesthood and mysteries of the Roman Catholics, Monophysites and Anglicans, and allowing intercommunion.
http://www.homb.org/resources/docs/thyateira.pdf

[ANGELA]

Thankyou Timothy for this info.

All I know is the Greek Orthodox are not allowed to partake, also we are not allowed to recieve through any other church but orthodox.