What do you do when your child's godmother "turns gay"?

[StaTeresita]

My unmarried sister and a formerly good family friend acted as godmothers for my second son seven years ago. Now they say they are involved in a homosexual relationship (with each other). When I asked my sister how we were going to handle this, she replied that she wished she could undo the baptism thing, meaning not be a godmother anymore and not be responsible for my children.

I do love my sister very much but I definitely not want my children involved with a same-sex couple that is not very respectful of us as parents. We have the "advantage" of living in a different country, but my boys still ask about their aunt's friend and I wonder what is one to do when something like this happens. I do not want people who actively live a homosexual lifestyle as an example for my children. Help!

[Michelle Arnold]

It is fortunate for you that your sister and her friend live in another country and are not interested in acting as godmothers anymore. (Two women cannot serve as and should not have been asked to be godmothers to one child anyway, but that is a side issue). All you have to do is to build on that distance. Assure your sister that you will find someone else to act as a spiritual mentor to your children so that she will not have to concern herself with that. Then look around your circle of friends and family for a spiritually mature, orthodox Catholic who can be a spiritual mentor. In time that person might be asked to be a confirmation sponsor. As for your children, it might be helpful for parents to learn that there is no need to answer every question they ask in exact terms. When they ask about your sister's friend, just say vaguely, "I'm not sure where she is right now; we've lost touch with her. Please remember her in your prayers." Then change the subject.