Godparent (Sponsor) Requirements

The CODE OF CANON LAW requires –

Canon. 873

There is to be only (1) one male sponsor or (2) one female sponsor or (3) one of each.

Note:
If there is ONE sponsor it can be a male or a female.
If there are TWO sponsors there must be one male and one female.

Canon. 874 §1

To be permitted to take on the function of sponsor a person must –

1. be designated by the one who is to be baptized, by their parents or guardians or, in their absence, by the pastor.
2. have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling this function.
3. be at least 16 years of age.
4. be a Catholic who has received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
5. has made First Holy Communion.
6. be a practicing Catholic, living a life of faith and integrity, in keeping with the function to be taken on.
7. not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared.
8. not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized.

Canon 874 §2

A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community is not to participate except together with a Catholic sponsor and then only as a witness of the baptism.