First Cousins Get Married in Maryland

AP ^ | 3/29/5

[SmithL]

Altoona, Pa. (AP) --

First cousins who were denied a marriage license by a Pennsylvania judge earlier this month were wed in a civil ceremony in Maryland, the couple said Monday.

Tonight Show host Jay Leno and conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh both commented about the story after Blair County Judge Jolene Kopriva refused to marry Eleanor Amrhein, 46, and Donald W. Andrews Sr., 39, of Logan Township.

The couple petitioned the judge March 14, three days after a court clerk refused to marry them after learning they were first cousins. The couple's mothers are sisters. But they hoped the judge would grant an exception to the Pennsylvania law, which was meant to prevent birth defects and other problems caused by marriage of close relatives, by telling the judge they didn't plan to have children.

"Everybody thought I should be ashamed of it," Amrhein said. "I am not."

Amrhein has no children; Andrews has three to other women.

Andrews grew up in the South, . . .

[SmithL]

Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!

[Dave Burns]

Same sex?

[Dave Burns]

Same sex?

[Servant of the 9]

great balls of fire!

None of that stuff. They said they weren't gonna have children.

So9

[kromike]

Strike up the Duelin' Banjos theme...

[econ_grad]

Are they genetically related, or is one of them adopted?

[Poohbah]

SMIB?

[sushiman]

Hehehe...I had some hot cousins , but damn never would've thought of marrying one !

[AmericanInTokyo]

I can think of another state beside Maryland that this thread might be tagged under.

But I won't say the state.

Some can guess, though.

[martin_fierro]

It's not just for West Virginia anymore!

[nmh]

Be prepared for disabilities or physical defects. It's too close.

[SmithL]

Something different every night.

[AmericanInTokyo]

And not necessarily PENNSYLVANIA. Let's see if someone else volunteers it.

[Stellar Dendrite]

This deserves a Barf Alert....because I think I just hurled.

[Spok]

Is this news because it wasn't in Arkansas?

[Dog]

ROFLMAO...

[Halls]

SICK!

[DWPittelli]

First cousins are allowed to marry in most states. I don't know how common it is, but it hardly deserves journalistic attention.

BTW, while the Old Testament forbids all sorts of unions, some not even by blood (marrying your dead uncle's widow, that sort of thing), there is no problem with cousins. That said, I understand the Catholic church used to require special dispensation to marry a 1st cousin, though I don't believe it was particularly hard to get.

[MisterRepublican]

This isn't really surprising. It remains legal in several states.

[AmericanInTokyo]

That would be a great tagline.