CHURCH LAW:

Code of Canon Law
BOOK IV, PART I, TITLE I. BAPTISM
CHAPTER IV. SPONSORS
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2Y.HTM

Can. 872 Insofar as possible, a person to be baptized is to be given a sponsor who assists an adult in Christian initiation or together with the parents presents an infant for baptism. A sponsor also helps the baptized person to lead a Christian life in keeping with baptism and to fulfill faithfully the obligations inherent in it.

Can. 873 There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each.

Can. 874 §1. To be permitted to take on the function of sponsor a person must:

1. be designated by the one to be baptized, by the parents or the person who takes their place, or in their absence by the pastor or minister and have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling this function;
2. have completed the sixteenth year of age, unless the diocesan bishop has established another age, or the pastor or minister has granted an exception for a just cause;
3. be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist and who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on;
4. not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared;
5. not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized.

         §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.

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ARCHDIOCESAN POLICIES

Archdiocese of Chicago
Policies, Book 4, The Sacraments of Initiation
http://policy.archchicago.org/policies/bk4num100.pdf

101.3.1. Policy
Catholic parents preparing for the baptism of their infant are expected to participate in a process of sacramental preparation before the baptism of their child. Godparents may also be encouraged to participate.

102.3.4. Policy
In the baptism of infants parents take responsibility for choosing a godparent or godparents who will serve as good examples for living the Catholic way of life. A godparent can later serve as the sponsor of the child when he/she is confirmed.

102.3.5. Policy
Although the selection of two godparents is customary, only one godparent is required for baptism. A godparent can be either male or female. If two godparents are chosen, one must be male and one female. (Canon 873 - above) A godparent must also be a fully initiated Roman Catholic who is free to celebrate the sacraments. (Canons 892 and 893) A baptized non-Catholic Christian can be chosen as a Christian witness provided there is at least one Catholic godparent. (Canon 874.2 -above)

102.3.6. Policy
A godparent must have completed his or her 16th year unless, for just cause, the pastor or minister of the sacrament makes an exception. Each godparent must be a confirmed Catholic who has also received first communion and is leading a life in harmony with the Catholic faith and the role of a sponsor. A godparent cannot be a parent of the one to be baptized and/or confirmed and cannot be bound by any canonical penalty.

In addition to the explicit canonical requirements (Canon 874), sponsors and godparents should be ready to commit the time and personal care necessary to nurture and support the candidate, whether a child or an adult. Ideally, they should be willing and available to participate in the catechumenate with their candidate or in the special preparations designed for the parents and family of an infant. One's godparents can never be changed since they were the historical witnesses to the baptism and entered a permanent spiritual relationship with the baptized.

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