I think this should satisfy everyone! And for once a Civil matter will be handled in a civil manner and the church and the people of the church would have no way to make legislation based on religious believes in order to discriminate against anyone!

1. Separation of Church and State.  From now on any marriage performed by the church will not be recognized by the state unless it is officiated by a Justice of the Peace.  This would mean if you were married by a church leader and not a JP your marriage is not recognized by the state and you get none of the legal benefits of Civil Marriage.  *Church marriage will simply be a ceremony recognized by the church alone*

2. Since Marriage is a religious word all Civil Marriages will now be called Civil Unions.  No one will be able to get "married" outside the church but then again the church marriage will have no benefits at all, so it doesn't really matter.

3. Civil Unions will be for any one, regardless of race, creed, or sexual orientation between persons of consenting legal age.

Now who could disagree with that?

I wouldn't even bother with Civil Unions.

There is no real reason why marriage should be legislated.

The government should just make no laws involving marriage... and marriage or civil unions just shouldn't exist.  A simple emergency contact for special hospital rights for the non-related is all that you really need.

A little extreme... both of you haha. I do like the idea of taking religion out of marriage considering that's where I see most of the problem coming from. But could definitely have both... one recognized by the religions and one recognized by the state.

"3. Civil Unions will be for any one, regardless of race, creed, or sexual orientation between persons of consenting legal age."

Sounds like the bes toption, to stop people from whining!

I'd have to agree with the #3. Just extend the same benefits to everyone and call it whatever you will.

I've been a proponent of this for awhile now. Keep government and religion away from each other. Remove all laws concerning marriage, and instead impose news laws concerning civil unions for all.

I think it's fair.

Either way, what happens, somebody is going to feel discriminated against. That's why utopian societies are so farfetch'd, somebody is always going to complain; there will always be a rebel.

yeah, the OP's idea sounds good to me

I agree.

Keep government out of marriage and just introduce civil unions for anybody with the same tax benefits, etc.

I have proposed this exact thing many times here, so obviously, I agree. :)