I heard something that to marry in the church, your spouse has to be outside the 7th degree of being a relative or something. Is that just something I heard?
Canon Law regulates the Sacrament of Marriage and impediments to valid marriage.
Can. 1091 §1. In the
direct line of consanguinity marriage is invalid between all ancestors and descendants, both legitimate and natural.
§2. In the
collateral line marriage is invalid up to and including the fourth degree.
§3. The impediment of consanguinity is not multiplied.
§4. A marriage is never permitted if doubt exists whether the partners are related by consanguinity in any degree of the direct line or in the second degree of the collateral line.
Can. 108 §1. Consanguinity is computed through lines and degrees.
§2. In the direct line there are as many degrees as there are generations or persons, not counting the common ancestor.
§3. In the collateral line there are as many degrees as there are persons in both the lines together, not counting the common ancestor.
The direct line means parents/children-- that is never permitted in any degree.
Collateral line means siblings. So, the 4th degree of the collateral line would be first cousins:
A & B (common ancestor)
C& D (siblings to each other) (1st and 2nd)
E & F (first cousins to each other) (3rd and 4th)
So, beyond first cousins consanguinity is not an impediment under the current code of canon law. Inside the 4th degree, first cousins for example, marriage requires dispensation.
