If a kohen marries a divorcee, who loses status
Marc Bart, alberton, south africa
Dear Marc,
The Kohen himself continues to have all the restrictions of a Kohen (cemetery, forbidden marriages, etc.) but the Sages took away all of the merits of a Kohen (first Aliyah, right to recite Birkas Kohanim) until he divorces her and takes a serious oath concerning marrying forbidden women in the future (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 128:40, and Mishnah Berurah 128:147-149).
A child born from this marriage is a Chalal and does not have the status of a Kohen at all.
All the best,
Reuven Weiner