In the

canon law of the Catholic Church The canon law of the Catholic Church ("canon law" comes from Latin ') is "how the Church organizes and governs herself". It is the system of laws and ecclesiastical legal principles made and enforced by the hierarchical authorities of the Cathol ...

, the impediment of public propriety, also called public honesty or decency, is a diriment impediment to

marriage Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...

, a prohibition that prevents a marriage bond from being formed. It arises from a valid

betrothal An engagement or betrothal is the period of time between the declaration of acceptance of a marriage proposal and the marriage itself (which is typically but not always commenced with a wedding). During this period, a couple is said to be ''fi ...

between the male party to the contract and the blood relatives of the woman in the first degree (mother, daughter, sister), and conversely between the woman and the blood relatives of the man in the same degree (father, son, brother). Once existing, the impediment always remains, even though the betrothal is lawfully broken. Second, this impediment, for a stronger reason, arises from a marriage contract, where the marriage was not consummated, even if the marriage be invalid, unless the invalidity be due to lack of lawful consent. In cases where the marriage is consummated, public decency gives way to affinity.

Bibliography

{{RC-Canon-law-stub Catholic matrimonial canon law Impediments (Catholic canon law) Catholic Church legal terminology