The Sixth commandment says “Thou shall not to marry persons who are not Catholics, or who are related to us within three degrees of kindred, nor privately without witnesses, nor to solemnize marriage at forbidden times”
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
It means that no one is permitted to marry another person who is related to them by a third degree of blood relationship.
WHO ARE IN THE THIRD DEGREE OF BLOOD RELATIONSHIP?
Second cousins are in the third degree of blood relationship, and persons whose relationship is nearer than second cousins are in closer degrees of kindred. It is unlawful for such persons to marry without a special permission of the Church.
Apart from blood relationship there are other relationship that render marriage unlawful? They are degrees of affinity (relationships contracted by marriage), spiritual affinity (relationship contracted by being sponsors at Baptism) and even relationship by adoption (Your daugther cannot marry the son you adopted and vice versa).
Does this actually happen in the society? Yes, it does but the Church forbids it. And so we should guide and teach our people.
The Church also forbids AS from marrying an AS. If they must, then they must obtain a special permission from the Bishop and even with an undertaking from the civil court.
THOU SHALL NOT TO MARRY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT CATHOLICS. HOW?
The answer will come later 🙏 I almost missed my lauch 🍲. Don’t forget you can still access these answers from many Church documents and genuine Catholic sites.
Cheers 🥂
