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Asking godparents the right questions

From the Revd Dennis Nichols
Sir, — With regard to baptism and “perjury” (Comment, 29 February; Letters, 7 March), it was the Alternative Service Book baptism service that brought this into being with the question: “I ask these questions which you must answer for yourselves and for these children. Do you turn to Christ? [etc.]”

Archbishop Cranmer had it right with his question in the Prayer Book: “Dost thou, in the name of this Child, renounce the devil and all his works [etc.]?”

We know that many parents and godparents, by their lifestyles, don’t turn to Christ, repent of their sins, or renounce evil; but they can have a sincere intention when they bring their children for baptism to try to bring them up in the Christian way of life, and they can signify this intention by themselves anointing their children with the oil of catechumens, by invitation of the priest, after he has performed this rite.

In this context, they can sincerely make the baptismal promises if they are asked by the priest: “Do you, in the name of this child, [etc.]?”

The canon requires us to baptise infants, because the faith of the Church is that the sacrament works ex opere operato. Therefore, the grace is imputed to the child because there is no wilful impediment being set against it. We must believe this if we are true to our Anglican heritage.
DENNIS NICHOLS
Westwood House
Tremorvah Crescent
Truro
Cornwall TR1 1NL

From the Revd Chris Jones
Sir, — The discussion regarding baptismal perjury struck a chord with me, but rather for a related reason. I am encountering more and more parents who desperately want Janet or John to be godparent to their child, only to find that they are unbaptised and thus disqualified.

The inevitable question comes, “Will you do him first, Father?” In general, the answer has to be no. To baptise an adult without prior evidence of faith, and solely to fulfil the requirements for godparents, seems to me to be hardly within the spirit of Canon B24. I would contemplate this only under exceptional circumstances.

Having to refuse people or turn them away altogether always causes distress, both to them and to me. But “the law”, as they say, “is the law.” In trying to uphold its provisions, am I a fool or a wise man? Perhaps someone can enlighten me.
CHRIS JONES
20 Bedford Road, Yeovil
Somerset BA21 5UQ


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