Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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ILLEGITIMACY

According to Church law, the birth of children born less than six months after the date of a marriage, or more than ten months after the dissolution of conjugal life. Unless otherwise specified, children legitimized by a subsequent marriage are, as far as canonical effects are concerned, held equal to legitimate children. Unless there is proof to the contrary, the husband of a woman is considered the father of her child.