Dispensation, Permissions for Sacramental Preparation, Sponsor for Baptism/Confirmation
A Dispensation is the relaxing of an existing law to allow something to take place for the spiritual benefit of a person or group. Dispensations and permissions are granted in the name of the Bishop. Dispensations are normally granted in writing; they can be given orally, but even in that case there should be a written notation of the oral permission including the name of the person granting the dispensation and the date the dispensation was granted. A permission is the approval to follow a proposed course of action. It is normally put in writing. If given orally the same type of notation as discussed before in dispensation should be made by the person receiving the permission. Usually a dispensation, or permission, is requested by the pastor, parochial vicar, parish deacon or pastoral coordinator for a member of their own parish or for a person from another parish with whom they are working with that person’s pastor’s knowledge and consent.
Sacramental Dispensations or Permissions commonly sought:
Marriage:
Dispensation from Disparity of Cult: This dispensation is sought when a Catholic person is engaged in preparation to marry a person who is not baptized. The person may be a non baptized Christian from another denomination, or a person from a non Christian religion.
Permission for a Mixed Religion Marriage: This permission is sought when a Catholic is preparing for marriage to a baptized Christian from a different denomination.
Dispensation from Canonical Form: This dispensation is requested when a Catholic wishes to marry a baptized Christian, a non baptized Christian, or a person from non Christian religion in a non Catholic church or the place of worship of the non Catholic party.
i. It is rare that a dispensation will be given for a wedding outside of a church or other place of worship. A dispensation for a wedding in a garden, park, reception hall, or private chapel is not usually granted.
ii. For a grave reason, a dispensation might be given for a home wedding. For example a gravely ill or homebound immediate family member who cannot leave home.
Baptism:
Dispensation from the age requirement for a godparent or sponsor. A dispensation, or a permission may be given to allow an underage person to serve as godparent or sponsor for baptism. The conditions for being a sponsor for baptism are:
i. Only one male or female sponsor or one of each sex.
ii. The sponsor must be the person requested by the person being baptized, by the parents/guardians of the person being baptized in the case of children and infants, or in the absence of parents, by the pastor or minister of baptism.
iii. The person must have completed their sixteenth birth, i.e. must be 17 years of age, or it seems to the pastor or minister that an exception is to be made for a just cause.
iv. Be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the Most Holy Eucharist, and leads a life in harmony with the faith (valid marriage, good morals, regular church participation) and in harmony the role to be undertaken (assist the parents in bringing up the child in the practice of the faith by keeping Christ’s commandments, loving God, neighbor, and self).
v. Not bound by any canonical penalty
vi. Not be the father or mother of the person being baptized.
vii. Note that a baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community may not be a godparent or sponsor, but may stand in as an official witness to baptism together with a Catholic sponsor.
Confirmation:
A priest may request permission to confirm in individual situations. The conditions for being a sponsor for confirmation are the same as those for baptism