Question — Decretum of Gratian
Question VIII
GRATIAN. Concerning those who were unknowingly joined, Gregory defined in the Register in what degree of consanguinity or affinity they may be left together by dispensation of the Church, saying:
GRATIANUS. De his uero, qui ignoranter coniuncti sunt, in quo gradu consanguinitatis uel affinitatis ex dispensatione ecclesiae relinquantur, Gregorius in Registro diffiniuit, dicens:
Friedberg, col. 1281/1282
C. I. Those unknowingly joined within the seventh generation are not to be separated.
Concerning the degrees of kinship: if those who are found in marriage within the seventh generation acted unknowingly, and many courses of years have passed so that they have children, let persons of this kind who are found in the sixth, or perhaps in the fifth, not be separated until, with the Lord’s permission, we speak face to face. But I say this according to indulgence, not according to command. Yet those who appear to have contracted new marriages in these two degrees are in every way to be separated within the circle of the year. For the future, let general statutes be confirmed throughout the whole province by proceeding in such a way that no one may dare hereafter to perpetrate such a crime, and that those who do so, punished more severely by penalties and without the mercy of reconsideration, are separated. But those who have joined to themselves in marriage the blood relatives of their wife, as we wrote to you some time ago, if they are found in the same degree, are to be separated, or let their cause be suspended until, with the Lord’s help, we come together.
The same: § 1. Concerning those who, after the death of a wife, wish to contract second marriages, we have justly, honorably, and reasonably provided that they abstain from those women’s blood relatives down to the fourth degree of genealogy. We have set forth these things more mildly according to the indulgence of holy mother Church. Yet according to the judgment of the secular laws, all these evil and unlawful things are in every way to be rejected with worthy coercions and grave attacks of discipline, so that all may be at rest in future time.
C. I. Non separentur qui infra septimam generationem ignoranter copulantur.
De gradibus uero cognationum, qui infra septimam generationem in matrimonio sunt inuenti, si nescienter fecerunt, et multa curricula annorum sunt reuoluta, ita ut filios habeant, in sexto qui inuenti sunt, aut fortasse in quinto, huiusmodi non separentur, donec nos permittente Domino ore ad os loquamur. Hoc autem dico secundum indulgentiam, non secundum inperium. Qui uero de his duobus gradibus nouas contraxisse nuptias uidentur, idem infra anni coronam, modis omnibus separentur. De cetero uero generalia per omnem prouinciam taliter percurrens statuta firmentur, ut nullus audeat deinceps tale scelus perpetrare, et qui fecerint sine retractionis misericordia acrius puniti ultionibus separentur. Hi uero, qui propinquas sanguinis uxoris suae in matrimonio sibi sociauerunt, sicut iamdudum uobis scripsimus, qui in eodem gradu inuenti sunt, separentur, aut suspendatur eorum causa, usque dum nos insimul Domino auxiliante conueniamus. Idem: §. 1. De his, qui mortua uxore secundas contrahere nuptias uolunt, iuste et honeste et rationabiliter prospeximus, ab earum consanguineis usque ad quartum gradum genealogiae abstineri. Hec nos secundum indulgentiam sanctae matris ecclesiae mitius prelibauimus. Ceterum iuxta legum secularium censuram dignis cohercionibus grauibusque disciplinae inuectionibus hec omnia mala et illicita modis omnibus refutanda sunt, ut futuro deinceps tempore cuncta quiescant.
Friedberg, col. 1281/1282
C. II. Those found joined in the fourth or fifth degree are to be separated.
The same to Felix, Bishop of the city of Messina. We decree that these things are to be guarded against salutarily: no member of the faithful is to desire to join to himself in marriage a person related by his own blood for as long as the lines of affinity are recognized through the succession of the lineage. Rather, just as it was defined by our ancestors, so let it be observed in every way, because we never grant anyone permission to contract a union within the seventh number of kindred, namely, to those who descend by the kindred of consanguinity from father and mother. But let men and women who are found joined in the fourth or fifth degree be separated, because it is written: “No human being shall approach one near to him by blood in order to uncover that person’s nakedness”; and again: “The soul that does anything from these things shall perish from the midst of its people.” Certainly, those to whom an unlawful union is forbidden will have liberty to enter a better marriage—unless they have contumaciously persevered in the same crime until the death of one of them. Hence in the Council of Orléans:
C. II. In quarto uel quinto gradu qui coniuncti inuenti fuerint separentur.
Idem Felici, Messanae ciuitatis Episcopo. Hec salubriter precauenda sancimus, ne quis fidelium propinquam sanguinis sui, usquequo affinitatis liniamenta generis successione cognoscuntur, in matrimonio sibi desideret copulari sed, sicut a maioribus nostris diffinitum est, ita modis omnibus obseruetur, quoniam usque ad septenarium numerum parentelae nulli umquam copulam contrahere licentiam damus, his uidelicet, qui ex patre et matre consanguinitatis descendunt parentela. Qui autem et que in quarto uel quinto gradu coniuncti inuenti fuerint, separentur, quoniam scriptum est: "Omnis homo ad proximam sanguinis sui non accedat, ut reuelet turpitudinem eius;" et iterum: "Anima, que fecerit quippiam ex istis, peribit de medio populi sui." Sane quibus coniunctio interdicitur illicita, habebunt ineundi coniugii melioris libertatem. Nisi in eodem crimine usque ad mortem alterius eorum contumaciter perseuerauerint. Unde in Concilio Aurelianensi:
Friedberg, col. 1281/1282
C. III. One who perseveres in incest until the other’s death shall not take a wife.
As long as incestuous persons remain in that detestable and unspeakable crime, let them be regarded not among the Christian faithful but among catechumens or Gentiles; that is, let them take neither food nor drink with Christians, but let them do this alone; let them not be kissed or greeted by them. But if they prove disobedient to their priests and refuse to be separated from so unspeakable a crime and return to public penance, let them be regarded among those who are imperiled by an unclean spirit, or even among those of whom the Truth itself says: “If he does not hear you, let him be to you as a heathen and a publican.” And if one of them is overtaken by death, let the other repent gravely for as long as that person lives and remain without hope of marriage.
GRATIAN. By this authority those found joined in the fourth or fifth degree of consanguinity are commanded to be separated by the Church.
C. III. Non ducat uxorem qui usque ad mortem alterius in incestu perseuerauerit.
Incestuosi, dum in ipso detestando atque nefando scelere manent, non inter fideles Christianos, sed inter cathecuminos aut gentiles habeantur, id est, cum Christianis non sumant cibum neque potum, sed soli faciant hoc; non osculentur, nec salutentur ab eis. Sed si suis sacerdotibus inobedientes extiterint, et a tam nefando scelere segregari, atque ad publicam penitenciam redire noluerint, inter eos habeantur, qui spiritu periclitantur inmundo, uel etiam inter eos, de quibus per se ueritas ait: "Si te non audierit, sit tibi sicut ethnicus et publicanus." Et si alter eorum morte preuentus fuerit, alter, quamdiu uiuit, grauiter peniteat, et sine spe coniugii maneat. Gratian. Hac auctoritate qui in quarto uel in quinto gradu consanguinitatis coniuncti inuenti fuerint ab ecclesia separari iubentur.
Friedberg, col. 1281/1282