An ancestral rite of passage essential for believers, baptism also made its appearance in secular society in the aftermath of the French Revolution, through a decree of 1794 designating the town halls competent to carry out civil sponsorship.
A booming practice
Introduced in full republican effervescence, this ritual was originally intended to support young citizens in their entry into the national community. However, after falling into disuse for more than a century, this practice has experienced a revival in recent decades.
There are various reasons for families. Civil baptism is not only a way to celebrate the birth of a child and to mark an important additional date in its history, but also to ceremonially designate one or two people who thus commit to support him in his life to come. Beyond a party dedicated to the baby - or to the child, even to the adolescent - it is therefore also a testimony of confidence towards a loved one and the enhancement of his symbolic link with the child. The fact of being able to express this commitment before a representative of the law and the republican values of "freedom, equality, fraternity" obviously brings a particular solemnity.
A faculty of town halls
If the republican baptism is current today in a good number of municipalities, it is however not framed by the legislator. While an amendment to the Equality and Citizenship Law of January 2017 provided for officially recognizing this ceremony and framing the act of civil sponsorship, the measure was indeed censured by the Constitutional Council as a legislative horseman unrelated to the main text.
Consequently, this rite is not a right but only a possibility offered by the municipalities which agree to organize it. No specific ceremony is therefore planned and this practice is not recorded in the civil status registers. This also explains why it is impossible to count the number of civil baptisms carried out in France.
However, many town halls take this symbolic commitment to heart and prepare it as solemnly as a wedding. A complete file must be sent to the municipal services, including the parents' identity documents, proof of address, the full copy of the child's birth certificate and the identity documents and supporting documents of the sponsor and the godmother. Some cities may also impose an age requirement.
Moral support or legal duty
It will be understood, the role of civilian sponsors is limited to their only desire to intervene in the child's life. But they have no legal obligation to do so. If the parents wish to give a legal value to this commitment, they will have to go through a will or a special declaration before a notary. The objective? Designate in advance a person, called a tutor, so that after your death, she will take care of your child until he reaches the age of majority. Note: if this decision is binding on the family council set up to manage the guardianship of the child, the chosen individual may however still refuse to accept this mission.
People
Royal baby: Harry and Meghan's son Archie was baptized this weekend in a private ceremony
Economy
Succession: What is the hereditary reserve, and what rights does it guarantee?
- Legislation
- Rights
- Baby
- Parents