SIR,-It seems to me that the way to stem the leakage is to start at the beginning, i.e., when a baby is baptised.
At the present moment the office of Godparent seems to have little meaning, and sponsors are chosen either for their social qualities or else just any one who happens to be handy. Yet according to Canon Law " it is their duty to regard their spiritual son as per
petually entrusted to them . and the obligation of sponsors is a grave one during the period when the Godson needs spiritual training" (C.L. 769).
From my experience as foster mother to children " in care" of local authorities, I know that many children who are entered as " R.C. are not always baptised when taken into care and, even when they are, the Godparents are unknown.
Such children, as I know from experience, do benefit very much by being provided with a deputy Godparent who will take an interest in them and take on the duties which should have been the care of the original sponsor.
This work (of deputy Godparent) is one which should appeal to any active Catholic who is interested in children and who is willing to accept the long-term responsibility.
Catholic Foster Mother