Many church laws, but not the Bible, prohibit first-cousin marriages (2024)
Must first cousins be forbidden to marry? In the Bible, and in many parts of the world, the answer is no. But the answer is yes in much of church law and in half the United States.
This issue became news when the April issue of the Journal of Genetic Counseling said risks have been exaggerated for serious birth defects, retardation or genetic diseases among children of first-cousin marriages.
Generally, an unrelated couple has a 3 percent to 4 percent risk of having a child with such problems, while marriages of close cousins add 1.7 percent to 2.8 percent to the risk. Genetic problems are considerably higher with the forms of close inbreeding that the Bible forbids and secular culture abhors as "incest."
First cousins cannot marry under the age-old laws of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, covering much of world Christendom.
But in the Reformation, the Church of England followed Protestantism's "sola scripture" (Scripture alone) principle and returned to biblical law, which also binds traditional Jews.
Under Queen Elizabeth I, Anglicanism decreed that "no prohibition, God's law except, shall trouble or impeach any marriage outside Levitical law." Two dozen biblical prohibitions were listed in the "Table of Kindred and Affinity" in the Book of Common Prayer.
This "Levitical law" is found in Leviticus 18:6-18, supplemented by Leviticus 20:17-21 and Deuteronomy 27:20-23. Among the forbidden couples are parent-child, sister-brother, grandparent-grandchild, uncle-niece, aunt-nephew, and between half siblings and certain close in-laws.
A noteworthy biblical exception was "levirate marriage." A man was forbidden to marry his brother's wife except when the brother died without leaving a child, in which case the surviving brother was urged to marry the widow although he had the option to refuse (Deuteronomy 25:5-10).
There were early examples in Genesis of couples that would later be forbidden under the Law of Leviticus, for instance Abraham's marriage to his half sister Sarah.
The New Testament's single passage on incest (1 Corinthians 5:1-2) condemned a man "living with his father's wife," apparently meaning his stepmother, which came under the Leviticus bans and was penalized with excommunication.
Why limit marriage partners? The Bible simply says marriage with a "near kinsman" or "near kinswoman" is wrong, expressing a near-universal aversion in human cultures.
St. Augustine, in the early fifth century, and the later St. Thomas Aquinas developed a sociological explanation: The welfare of society requires the widest possible bonds of friendship and love, making marriage outside the family desirable. The resulting unification of tribes reduces warfare and fosters social peace.
These writers also said that prohibition of close kin marriages strengthened a healthy feeling of respect in the family circle and helped prevent sexual corruption of children by those living within households.
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Later theologians added scientific arguments, saying natural law appeared to abhor close intermarriage due to the increased physical and mental defects that result from repeated inbreeding, as the new genetic study indicates.
In the Bible, and in many parts of the world, the answer is no. But the answer is yes in much of church law
church law
Canon law (from Ancient Greek: κανών, kanon, a 'straight measuring rod, ruler') is a set of ordinances and regulations made by ecclesiastical authority (church leadership) for the government of a Christian organization or church and its members.
and in half the United States. Among the forbidden couples are parent-child, sister-brother, grandparent-grandchild, uncle-niece, aunt-nephew, and between half siblings and certain close in-laws.
Answer: The church's Code of Canon Law (Canon 1091) prohibits marriage between two first cousins. However, this is considered to be an impediment by ecclesiastical rather than divine law, and the diocesan bishop can grant a dispensation for them to marry validly in the church.
Cousin marriage was once the norm throughout the world, but it became taboo in Europe after a long campaign by the Roman Catholic Church. Theologians like St. Augustine and St. Thomas argued that the practice promoted family loyalties at the expense of universal love and social harmony.
In numerous jurisdictions, first cousins are considered to be closely related under incest laws. Marriage or sexual relationship between first cousins is typically considered to be incestuous as well as illegal in many states.
Overall, such marriage has a high risk and better advice to be avoided. Yes. Marriages within blood relations increses the risk of abortions, congenital anomalies and autosomal recessive disorders. The closer the relationship, the higher the risk.
cousins are not included in the lists of prohibited relationships within the bible. second cousins therefore would not be considered prohibited. Leviticus 18, Leviticus 20, and Deuteronomy are where you find the various restrictions.
In 1858, Kansas became the first state to prohibit cousin marriage. Before 1930, twenty-eight states passed a cousin ban. Only three states have taken prohibitory action in the last century: Kentucky (1946), Maine (1985), and Texas (2005).
Instead of the former practice of counting up to the common ancestor and then down to the proposed spouse, the new law computed consanguinity by counting only back to the common ancestor. In the Catholic Church, unknowingly marrying a closely consanguineous blood relative was grounds for a declaration of nullity.
First cousins, therefore, cannot marry in the Church. As for second, third, and other cousins, however, their degree of consanguinity is farther removed — they are related in the fifth, sixth, and even further degrees of the collateral line.
The Roman Catholic Church did later prohibit first cousins from marrying, though exceptions were made for a fee. Martin Luther, the father of Protestantism, objected to such payments, so many Protestant denominations allowed these marriages free of charge.
Besides Muslims, some Jewish and Arab Christians in the Middle East have a history of cousin marriage. In addition, some Muslim groups living outside the Middle East, such as Bangladeshi Muslims or expatriate Pakistanis living in England, also practice consanguinity.
Laws governing the marriage of first cousins vary widely. In 24 states (pink), such marriages are illegal. In 19 states (green), first cousins are permitted to wed.
Isaac and Rebekah's second son Jacob married his cousins Leah and Rachel, who were daughters of his mother's brother Laban. Leah and Rachel were sisters; a wife's sister is also forbidden. Jacob's firstborn son Reuben had sex with his father's concubine Bilhah.
Communities that marry cousins, like Adam and Ruby, have a higher number of one particular group of inherited conditions. These are called recessive disorders which cause a range of serious diseases and disabilities. Examples include Primary Ciliary Dykinesia (PCD), thalassaemia and Tay- Sachs disease.
Cousins make great partners because they share similar genes and backgrounds, but marrying your cousin can also lead to genetic disorders. If you're thinking of tying the knot with your first cousin, be sure to consult with a genetic counselor to see if there is any risk for birth defects or genetic abnormalities.
First cousins have an inbreeding coefficient of 0.0625. Anything at or above 0.0156, the coefficient for second cousins, is considered consanguineous; that includes relationships between people and their nephews and nieces.
Twenty-four states prohibit marriages between first cousins. Twenty states and the District of Columbia allow cousins to marry; six states permit first-cousin marriage only under certain circ*mstances.
Introduction: My name is Terence Hammes MD, I am a inexpensive, energetic, jolly, faithful, cheerful, proud, rich person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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