Affinity (canon Law)

Affinity (canon Law)

In Canon law of the Catholic Church, affinity is a relationship which "arises from a valid marriage, even if not consummated, and exists between a man and the blood relatives of the woman and between the woman and the blood relatives of the man."

Affinity "is so computed that those who are blood relatives of the man are related in the same line and degree by affinity to the woman and vice versa."

Today affinity does not beget affinity. Therefore the relatives of the man do not become relatives of the woman's relatives, neither do those of the woman become relatives of the man's relatives.