Abstract

This study dealt with the selection process and role expectations associated with the sponsor or godparent among Mexican American and Anglo-American Catholics. The primary purpose was to answer four questions: (1) Who is selected to be a godparent; (2) How he or she is chosen: (3) When the godparent is selected; and (4) What the parents expect the godparent to do for the child. In order to answer these questions a sample of families selected by the priests of three parishes differing with respect to ethnic composition was interviewed. This sample was composed of families which had had a child baptized in the six-month period, November, 1972, to May, 1973. The data were collected by means of a personal interview which was based on a questionnaire designed to elicit the information needed to answer the questions posed by the study. In general, there were little or no differences in the role expectations and selection of godparents among Mexican-American Catholics and Anglo-American Catholics. However, there was considerable variation among Mexican Americans from the expectations suggested in the literature. The primary differences between Mexican-American and·Anglo-American Catholics appear to be frequency of contact with godparents (Mexican American Catholics had more frequent contact) and location of godparents (Mexican-American godparents were more proximal), two factors which are undoubtedly interrelated.

Department

Anthropology

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

James H. Stirling

Second Advisor

John W. Elick

Third Advisor

Peter Luna

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Level

M.A.

Year Degree Awarded

1975

Date (Title Page)

6-1975

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Catholic Church -- Customs and practices; Sponsors; Sponsors Hispanic Americans -- Religious life

Type

Thesis

Page Count

vii; 65

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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