First cousin marriage

[Cristinamartinez]

Is a first cousin marriage considered valid in the Catholic Church?

 

[Elf01]

Strictly speaking, it would be valid but illicit.

Could there be a dispensation to make it licit?

 

[RolandThompsonGunner]

it would be valid but illicit

And also…eww.

 

[1ke]

Is a first cousin marriage considered valid in the Catholic Church?

With a dispensation, yes. Without it, no.

Also provided it can be legally contracted in the civil jurisdiction.

 

[1ke]

Strictly speaking, it would be valid but illicit.

I’m not sure how you arrived at that conclusion. A marriage in the 4th degree of consanguinity is invalid.

It would require a dispensation to validly contract such a marriage. It must be legal in the civil jurisdiction in order to receive the dispensation.

 

[jclarkson]

Strictly speaking, it would be valid but illicit.

I presume it would be valid and licit if one party had been adopted?

 

[1ke]

I presume it would be valid and licit if one party had been adopted?

No.

Consanguinity in the collateral line arising from adoption is invalid through the second degree (siblings), not fourth degree (first cousins).

It would be valid. “Illicit” isn’t part of the equation here.

Also, the answer above is not correct. Consanguinity in the collateral line is invalid through the 4th degree. So a first cousin marriage is invalid (not “valid but illicit”). However the impediment can be dispensed.

 

[Fauken]

I’m not sure how you arrived at that conclusion. A marriage in the 4th degree of consanguinity is invalid .

“But as for two first cousins… the Church’s position is that they are forbidden to marry only by ecclesiastical law, not by divine law. For this reason it is canonically possible to receive a dispensation that permits two first-cousins to marry validly in the Catholic Church. (This assumes, of course, that it is legal under civil law in the area where the marriage is to take place—and in the U.S., some states permit it, while others don’t.)”

Deleting my post.

 

[F_Marturana]

I have a hard time figuring our degree of consanguinity.

To get to first cousin is it cousin 1–> parent—>sibling of parent—> child of that sibling. That’s four people, so is that 4 degrees?

 

[1ke]

To get to first cousin is it cousin 1–> parent—>sibling of parent—> child of that sibling. That’s four people, so is that 4 degrees?

Kinda. Consanguinity counts persons, not including the common ancestor. But you start with the first level below the common ancestor.

Joe and Sally are the common ancestor. Their children are Lisa (1) and John (2). Lisa has a son Michael (3) and John has a daughter Joan (4).

Michael and Joan are first cousins and in the fourth degree of consanguinity.

Another example John also has a son Joseph. So, Lisa (1) and John (2) and Joseph (3). Lisa and Joseph (aunt/nephew) are in the 3rd degree of consanguinity.

Also, the laws on consanguinity, affinity, and public propriety have changed significantly over the years, as has the method of counting, in various council canons and code of canon law. So, if you are reading something historical, the method of counting and required dispensations might be entirely different.

 

[F_Marturana]

Would lisa and Michael also be in the third degree of consanguinity?

 

[1ke]

Would lisa and Michael also be in the third degree of consanguinity

No, Michael is Lisa’s son. That is the direct line not collateral line. (Edited) Lisa’s parents are the common ancestor so it’s 2 degrees.

Direct line consanguinity never dispensed.

 

[Cristinamartinez]

Ok thank you for answering! My parents are first cousins but were married in the Catholic church, so I was just worried if their marriage was even valid. But assuming they got a dispensation then it is, right?

 

[1ke]

But assuming they got a dispensation then it is, right

Well yes, that would be required to marry in the Church. It’s not uncommon in many cultures.

 

[F_Marturana]

Thank you. I got confused there for a minute. Your explanation was very helpful.

 

[Gilly_flower]

I married a first cousin in a Catholic ceremony…50 years ago…

 

[tafan2]

I curious, do you remember how hard it was to get a dispensation? Where I grew up, lots of people Were related and it was not unheard of for second cousins to get a dispensation, but then we had a change of bishop and word went out it was not going to be granted as easily. But never knew if first cousins getting a dispensation to marry.

 

[Gilly_flower]

Very easy. I was told it might not be granted automatically except in circumstances including where I was already pregnant so I made it clear that if a pregnancy was required, it was very easily arranged. The dispensation took less than a week to arrive…

 

[AdamP88]

Interesting thread. I believe in some places, or perhaps in the past, if two children grew up is a house together, (not necessarily adopted) then they wouldn’t be allowed to marry due to have that familial link. (Too similar to a brother/sister relationship.

 

[1ke]

I believe in some places, or perhaps in the past, if two children grew up is a house together, (not necessarily adopted) then they wouldn’t be allowed to marry due to have that familial link. (Too similar to a brother/sister relationship.

Affinity and public propriety currently only restrict marriage in the direct line.

Adoption is restricted in the direct line and the second degree of the collateral line.

So non-biologically related children of a couple who marry each other (affinity) or children of cohabitors (public propriety) are not prohibited from marriage unless there is a legal relationship by virtue of adoption.