Consanguinity (medieval canon law stipulated that a relationship between cousins up to four degrees, or two persons descended from the same great great grand parents, would be regarded as incestuous) does constitute a diriment impident to marriage.
Thank for this.
Forgive me, but as I am not versed at all in canon law, I had look up "diriment impediment". This means that a marriage between first cousins would be "null and void" (not a marriage at all), correct?
If this is so, why is it possible to obtain a dispensation to marry without what would usually be considered forbidden degrees of relation? Or is it possible? I can't think of any such Catholic marriages off the top of my head, but I can think of at least one marriage between two Orthodox first cousins that was dispensed by their hierarchy. Perhaps they have a different view of this.
Does this canon law apply universally to faithful of all cultures, even if their native cultures place no prohibition on cousin marriages it one were to marry a cousin on the mother's side?
In relation to the third post in this thread,
While I think such a marriage between an adopted son and his foster parent's daughter would be absolutely forbidden, the question is interesting - when the Church places these prohibitions on marriage does it do so based on biological or official relationship?
Topic: Cousin Marriage (Read 3572 times)