Baptism Gift

[Marilyn. 340]

Her sister did ask her, but it is possible to ask another male i guess. I don't know if written, has to be a married couple

it doesn't have to be a married couple..... I wasn't asked.... the mom got her sister to be the godmother for the niece....

and you are not responsible for the child... I always thought that the godparents would get the child if the parents died but that is not the case, the parents can choose any legal guardians they want....

[gabby4ever 1]

if priests or preachers or whatever you call them are not rich, then im the pope....gimme a break...look at their houses and cars and stuff and if thats not rich then i dont know who it is...

i didnt say give the baby a lot of money or that the godparents are financially responsible....at least buy him a bunch of clothes worth more than 200....all im sayin is that 200 is too little in my opinion and if you wouldve showed up at my door wanting to baptize my son and you would've given him a little gold chain, im not sure if i would've let you baptize him.....the rest of the world can do whatever....

[Arazia 0]

if priests or preachers or whatever you call them are not rich, then im the pope....gimme a break...look at their houses and cars and stuff and if thats not rich then i dont know who it is...

i didnt say give the baby a lot of money or that the godparents are financially responsible....at least buy him a bunch of clothes worth more than 200....all im sayin is that 200 is too little in my opinion and if you wouldve showed up at my door wanting to baptize my son and you would've given him a little gold chain, im not sure if i would've let you baptize him.....the rest of the world can do whatever....

So you judge someone's closeness to god and ability to guide a child in religious matters to be determined solely on their pocketbook? All I can say is... wow.

[Marilyn. 340]

Godparents in Every Religon

[Jenn! 918]

if priests or preachers or whatever you call them are not rich, then im the pope....gimme a break...look at their houses and cars and stuff and if thats not rich then i dont know who it is...

i didnt say give the baby a lot of money or that the godparents are financially responsible....at least buy him a bunch of clothes worth more than 200....all im sayin is that 200 is too little in my opinion and if you wouldve showed up at my door wanting to baptize my son and you would've given him a little gold chain, im not sure if i would've let you baptize him.....the rest of the world can do whatever....

IMO, if the parents are that concerned about the monetary value of your gift, then they are probably not all too concerned with the spiritual development of their child then. I'm sorry but at a *baptism*, shouldn't a cross of Jesus meant to be kept one's whole life and worn close to the heart have more meaning than "more than $200 in clothes?

[Mary Lou 681]

Im with the savings bond group. Its an investment in the future!! Plus that way, you could get a 100 dollar savings bond, which will mature to MUCH more than that when its needed, and then you can get a small keepsake gift as well. A nice Bible was always the "Godparent" gift in our family. Hope this helps!

Your baby is beautiful!!!!!! My godchild is now 24 yrs old and for the past 24 yrs ive given him $100 savings bonds, i agree its an investment in the future. I see you are in wisconsin as well, i am in southeast Wis

[Marilyn. 340]

if priests or preachers or whatever you call them are not rich, then im the pope....gimme a break...look at their houses and cars and stuff and if thats not rich then i dont know who it is...

i didnt say give the baby a lot of money or that the godparents are financially responsible....at least buy him a bunch of clothes worth more than 200....all im sayin is that 200 is too little in my opinion and if you wouldve showed up at my door wanting to baptize my son and you would've given him a little gold chain, im not sure if i would've let you baptize him.....the rest of the world can do whatever....

IMO, if the parents are that concerned about the monetary value of your gift, then they are probably not all too concerned with the spiritual development of their child then. I'm sorry but at a *baptism*, shouldn't a cross of Jesus meant to be kept one's whole life and worn close to the heart have more meaning than "more than $200 in clothes?

this is kind of aside but some of our nieces and nephew's, aunts and uncles, like throwing around the cash and at Christmas they like to buy them the biggest most expensive presents.... my hubby and I got them some movies and they were more excited about that then the big expensive presents...

I guess what I am trying to say is that the size or expense of a present shouldn't matter....

geez, I know what I want to say but I can't get the words out

Edited January 9, 2007 by MarilynP

[pedroh 21]

if priests or preachers or whatever you call them are not rich, then im the pope....gimme a break...look at their houses and cars and stuff and if thats not rich then i dont know who it is...

i didnt say give the baby a lot of money or that the godparents are financially responsible....at least buy him a bunch of clothes worth more than 200....all im sayin is that 200 is too little in my opinion and if you wouldve showed up at my door wanting to baptize my son and you would've given him a little gold chain, im not sure if i would've let you baptize him.....the rest of the world can do whatever....

wow...... can i get 2 ubermaterialism meals to go please?

dude.. it's not vito corleone or don ciccio's version of godfather.. LAWL

[Caladan 19]

if priests or preachers or whatever you call them are not rich, then im the pope....gimme a break...look at their houses and cars and stuff and if thats not rich then i dont know who it is...

i didnt say give the baby a lot of money or that the godparents are financially responsible....at least buy him a bunch of clothes worth more than 200....all im sayin is that 200 is too little in my opinion and if you wouldve showed up at my door wanting to baptize my son and you would've given him a little gold chain, im not sure if i would've let you baptize him.....the rest of the world can do whatever....

IMO, if the parents are that concerned about the monetary value of your gift, then they are probably not all too concerned with the spiritual development of their child then. I'm sorry but at a *baptism*, shouldn't a cross of Jesus meant to be kept one's whole life and worn close to the heart have more meaning than "more than $200 in clothes?

I don't see this as necessarily materialistic. I think it depends on the culture and the family network. Here in the U.S. a baptism basically doesn't mean all that much in practice, even in terms of spiritual guidance. My family used it to divvy up who had to buy Christmas presents for the nieces & nephews: everyone took their godchild.

But I know that other traditions vary by region: think of wedding traditions or first communion traditions, or bar mitzvahs, or heck, high school graduation parties. And money can be part of those traditions, too. If the godmother/baptismal gift tradition replaces, say, a baby shower, then not giving money might be like showing up to a formal wedding in tattered blue jeans. I wouldn't say someone was materialistic if they said 'Dude, at least show up in a neat suit, not jeans.'

All I'm saying is that this is really sounding to me like a church tradition that's gotten mixed up with a deep cultural one, where the baby is supposed to be 'supported' by the family that's also part of its spiritual formation.

[Jenn! 918]

if priests or preachers or whatever you call them are not rich, then im the pope....gimme a break...look at their houses and cars and stuff and if thats not rich then i dont know who it is...

i didnt say give the baby a lot of money or that the godparents are financially responsible....at least buy him a bunch of clothes worth more than 200....all im sayin is that 200 is too little in my opinion and if you wouldve showed up at my door wanting to baptize my son and you would've given him a little gold chain, im not sure if i would've let you baptize him.....the rest of the world can do whatever....

IMO, if the parents are that concerned about the monetary value of your gift, then they are probably not all too concerned with the spiritual development of their child then. I'm sorry but at a *baptism*, shouldn't a cross of Jesus meant to be kept one's whole life and worn close to the heart have more meaning than "more than $200 in clothes?

I don't see this as necessarily materialistic. I think it depends on the culture and the family network. Here in the U.S. a baptism basically doesn't mean all that much in practice, even in terms of spiritual guidance. My family used it to divvy up who had to buy Christmas presents for the nieces & nephews: everyone took their godchild.

But I know that other traditions vary by region: think of wedding traditions or first communion traditions, or bar mitzvahs, or heck, high school graduation parties. And money can be part of those traditions, too. If the godmother/baptismal gift tradition replaces, say, a baby shower, then not giving money might be like showing up to a formal wedding in tattered blue jeans. I wouldn't say someone was materialistic if they said 'Dude, at least show up in a neat suit, not jeans.'

All I'm saying is that this is really sounding to me like a church tradition that's gotten mixed up with a deep cultural one, where the baby is supposed to be 'supported' by the family that's also part of its spiritual formation.

Fair enough. I still think it was inappropriate to imply that the OP is an unfit godfather because he thought a $200 gift may be a bit extravagant. And to state that, "200 is too little in my opinion and if you wouldve showed up at my door wanting to baptize my son and you would've given him a little gold chain, im not sure if i would've let you baptize him", well how is one supposed to know that? From the responses on this thread, many consider a keepsake an appropriate gift, but I guess that makes them all bad goddparents.

Edited January 9, 2007 by jenn3539

[payxibka 10,045]

if priests or preachers or whatever you call them are not rich, then im the pope....gimme a break...look at their houses and cars and stuff and if thats not rich then i dont know who it is...

i didnt say give the baby a lot of money or that the godparents are financially responsible....at least buy him a bunch of clothes worth more than 200....all im sayin is that 200 is too little in my opinion and if you wouldve showed up at my door wanting to baptize my son and you would've given him a little gold chain, im not sure if i would've let you baptize him.....the rest of the world can do whatever....

Well count on me not showing up at your door....

[Caladan 19]

Good point. I think this is a Polish thing, though, with the money at the baptism. It's not common where I grew up (savings bonds, yes. Cash, no.) But if it is with Andy's fiancé's family, it's probably not a bad time to pony up within reason.

[Sinergy 3]

I just dont understand why SOO much money is needed for a baptism for a baby who doesnt even know whats going on. unless the parents plan to go on a long weekend getaway with the baptism givings

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Another suggestion along the lines of a savings bond is to open up a college fund on the child's behalf and make annual contributions to that fund so that by the time he is old enough to decide about his educational future he may have some options. Just an idea . . .

[gabby4ever 1]

nobody's running with that money anywhere.....you people (or excuse me - some of you ) are so obssesed with the running with the money thing....fiancee running, coming here 4the greencard and leaving you , getting all your money etc etc now you have to make up another stupid thing, running with the money from the baptism.....wow...luckily i dont have to take my son 's money to go somewhere, i have my own savings thank god.

that money we got we used it to buy my son a lot of things he needed because we also had a baby shower here in the states and we didnt get but a cheap stroller and some clothes he didnt even wear.......so im sorry if my side of the family from a country that doesnt even compare to Us can afford to spend more on a baby they love and they're glad he's here and they dont mind helping us or helping him have a better start in life - with money or clothes or with whatever...it doesnt matter....and his other half of the family are to cheap to do it....proves me once again that this country is all about money and very few people are worth a damn....

but you can say whatever....

@caladan