Ethan Walker
Incest, derived from the Latin in and castus, meaning not chaste, is defined as sexual intercourse between individuals related by blood or marriage. The Catholic Church considers incest a sin against chastity and piety, with the Bible's Old Testament, specifically Leviticus 18:7-20, serving as a key reference. While the early Christian church did not adhere to Old Testament commandments, it followed Roman civil law, which was modified by Christian emperors to include incest prohibitions. Over time, the Catholic Church has refined its stance on incest, differentiating between direct-line incest, such as between parents and children, and other forms, with the former considered intrinsically immoral and never justified. The Church's canon law also addresses affinity, or kinship relationships created by marriage or extramarital intercourse, which can impede marriage. While incest was necessary in the biblical account of Genesis due to the limited options for procreation, it is generally regarded as a shameful thing in Leviticus 20:17.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Incest in the Bible | Leviticus 18:8–18 and 20:11–21 contain prohibitions of sexual relations between a couple in a consanguineous relationship, as well as prohibitions of certain affinity relationships. |
| Incest in Catholic Canon Law | Affinity is an impediment to marriage due to a kinship relationship created by another marriage or extramarital intercourse. Marriages and sexual relations between people in an affinity relationship are regarded as incest. |
| Incest in the Old Testament | Roman civil law prohibited marriages within four degrees of consanguinity but had no degrees of affinity with regards to marriage. |
| Incest in the New Testament | St. Paul stigmatizes incest as an "immorality". |
| Incest and Marriage | The integrity of confession does not necessitate distinguishing between forms of incest. Carnal sins between those who are spiritually or legally related within degrees that would invalidate their marriage are separate species of incest. |
| Incest and Sin | Incest is a sin against chastity and the virtue of piety or reverence due to those closely related to us. Between parent and child, or brother and sister, it is also a crime against nature. |
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What You'll Learn
Marriage between relatives is forbidden by the Catholic Church
The Catholic Church forbids marriage between relatives, considering it a sin against chastity and the virtue of piety or reverence due to those closely related to us. This is based on the idea that incest designates intimate relations between relatives or in-laws within a degree that prohibits marriage between them.
In Catholic canon law, affinity is defined as an impediment to marriage due to a kinship relationship created by another marriage or extramarital intercourse. The Fourth Lateran Council established the principle that "affinity does not beget affinity," which is still followed in modern Catholic doctrine. This means that there is no affinity between one spouse's relatives and the other spouse's relatives. However, affinity in any degree of the direct line, such as between a father-in-law and daughter-in-law, invalidates marriage according to Canon 1092 of the Latin Church.
The Church also prohibits marriage within certain degrees of consanguinity, or blood relationships. This includes relationships between parents and children, either in the ascending or descending line, as well as between siblings. The Council of Trent limited the impediment to marriage due to affinity created outside of marriage to the second degree of affinity.
The Bible contains references to incest in the book of Genesis, where due to their status as the first humans, Adam and Eve's children necessarily married their siblings. This was not considered morally wrong because there was no other choice of spouse. However, incestuous relationships in the direct line, such as between parents and children, are considered intrinsically immoral and never justified because they violate the nurturing and other parental roles that should be provided.
In summary, the Catholic Church forbids marriage between close relatives due to the sinful nature of incest and the potential for social and religious issues, including birth defects and the impairment of family ties.
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Incest is a sin against chastity and reverence
The Catholic Church considers incest a sin against chastity and reverence. Incest is defined as sexual intercourse between individuals who are related by blood or marriage and whom the Church forbids to marry. This definition includes not only parent-child and grandparent-grandchild relationships but also sibling relationships. The Church's stance on incest is rooted in the belief that such acts violate the nurturing and other parental roles that should be provided by parents and grandparents.
In Catholic canon law, affinity is an impediment to marriage due to the kinship relationship created by another marriage or extramarital intercourse. Marriages and sexual relations between people in an affinity relationship are considered incest. The Fourth Lateran Council established the principle followed in modern Catholic canon law: "affinity does not beget affinity". This means that there is no affinity between one spouse's relatives and the other spouse's relatives.
The Bible also contains prohibitions against incest. Leviticus 18:8-18 and 20:11-21 in the Hebrew Bible prohibit sexual relations between couples in a consanguineous relationship and certain affinity relationships, such as a father's wife, brother's wife, or a woman and her mother. Roman civil law also prohibited marriages within four degrees of consanguinity, and the early Christian church followed these laws.
Incest is considered a grave offense by the Catholic Church, and St. Paul stigmatizes it in his writings. It is important to note that incest is not only a religious issue but also a social and cultural taboo, with potential legal implications. The Church's teachings on incest are part of its broader understanding of the dignity of marriage and the family, emphasizing the exclusivity and uniqueness of the marital bond.
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The Bible says incest is a shameful thing
The Bible is clear in its view that incest is a shameful thing. This is evident in the Old Testament, which records several instances of incest without sanctioning them. For example, Lot, Abraham's nephew, had two sons with his own daughters, and this act is described by Moses as a "sordid" and shameful sin. Ruben, who was intimate with his father's concubine Bilhah, was condemned and penalized for his actions. Amnon, one of David's sons, committed rape against his half-sister Tamar, and was subsequently murdered by his full brother, Absalom.
The Bible also provides explicit prohibitions against incest in Leviticus 18:6-18 and 20:11-21, which state that sexual cohabitation is not permitted between a man and his mother, sister, granddaughter, or aunt, among others. The Deuteronomic Code offers a similar list of prohibited relationships, including a man's parent's daughter, his father's wife, and his mother-in-law. These passages make it clear that incest is considered a shameful thing in the Bible.
Furthermore, the Bible differentiates between incest in the first generation of Adam and Eve's offspring and incest in subsequent generations. In the first generation, there was no choice of spouse except for siblings, and there were no concerns about birth defects or inbreeding. However, incest beyond the first generation is problematic due to social and religious reasons. Marriage is a crucial institution in both society and religion, and incest beyond the first generation would undermine the expansion of the family of God.
The Bible's stance on incest is further supported by the early Christian church, which followed Roman civil law in prohibiting marriages within four degrees of consanguinity. While the specific rules and regulations regarding incest may vary across different cultures and societies, the Bible's message remains clear: incest is a shameful act that goes against God's plan for marriage and family.
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Incest beyond the first generation of Adam and Eve's offspring is problematic
The Catholic Church holds that incest is morally wrong beyond the first generation of Adam and Eve's offspring. This is because of social and religious reasons. According to Genesis 1:26-28, God tells man to "be fruitful and multiply and subdue the earth". Marriage is a crucial social and religious institution that creates rights and duties between parents and their children. Furthermore, Christ told his apostles to make disciples of all nations, and marriage is a means to expand the covenantal family of God.
Incest beyond the first generation can impair family ties and the expansion of the family of God. There are also concerns about incestuous birth defects and inbreeding. According to Leviticus 20:17, incest is a "shameful thing". The Fourth Lateran Council limited affinity and consanguinity prohibitions to the fourth degree, meaning that marriage within four degrees of consanguinity is prohibited. This is also reflected in Roman civil law, which prohibited marriages within four degrees of consanguinity.
The ancient rabbis teach that Adam and Eve had upwards of twenty-five sets of twins, so there was no need for incest beyond the first generation. After the first generation, the offspring of Adam and Eve intermarried with other groups of Homo Sapiens, meaning that everyone living today is both a descendant of God's evolutionary process and a genealogical descendant of Adam and Eve.
While incest beyond the first generation is considered morally wrong, incest within the first generation of Adam and Eve's offspring is not considered immoral. This is because they had no choice of spouse except their siblings. However, incestuous relationships in the direct line, such as between parents and children, are intrinsically immoral and never justified, as they violate the nurturing and other parental roles that parents and grandparents are supposed to provide.
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Incest is unlawful within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity
The Catholic Church has a long history of prohibiting incest, or what it calls "impediments to marriage", which limit the marriage of two closely related relatives. Initially, canon law followed Roman civil law, which prohibited marriages within four degrees of consanguinity. The first prohibited degree of consanguinity was a parent-child relationship, the second degree was a sibling relationship, the third degree was an uncle/aunt with a niece/nephew relationship, and the fourth degree was between first cousins.
In the early 9th century, the Western Church increased the number of prohibited degrees from four to seven. However, this ban was met with heavy criticism, particularly in 11th-century Croatia, which led to a schism in the Croatian church. In the 12th and 13th centuries, dispensations were granted with increasing frequency due to the large number of people encompassed in the prohibition and the difficulties this posed for finding potential spouses.
In 1215, the Fourth Lateran Council made a change to canon law, reducing the number of prohibited degrees of consanguinity back to four. This change greatly reduced the need for dispensations, as fourth cousins could now marry without one. The Fourth Lateran Council also removed the second type of affinity rule, with the new axiom becoming: "affinity does not beget affinity". This principle is still followed in the modern Catholic Church, which holds that affinity is an impediment to marriage, arising from a valid marriage or extramarital intercourse.
The degree of consanguinity that gives rise to prohibitions on marriage or sexual relations varies across jurisdictions. In some communities and time periods, cousin marriage is allowed or even encouraged, while in others, it is taboo and considered incest. Many jurisdictions have laws prohibiting incest, including Australia, Canada, Greece, Norway, Poland, the US, and Zimbabwe.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, incest is considered a sin in Catholicism. It is also a crime against nature when it occurs between a parent and child or siblings.
Incest is sexual intercourse between people related by blood or marriage, whom the Church forbids to marry.
Affinity is an impediment to marriage due to a kinship relationship created by another marriage or extramarital intercourse. Marriages and sexual relations between people in an affinity relationship are considered incest.
The Fourth Lateran Council removed the second type of affinity rule and the new axiom became: "affinity does not beget affinity". This is the principle followed in modern Catholicism. It also limited affinity and consanguinity prohibitions to the fourth degree.
Leviticus 18:8-18 and 20:11-21 contain prohibitions of sexual relations between a couple in a consanguineous relationship, as well as prohibitions of certain affinity relationships.
