[krinkrayyado]

There should be two simultaneous options: true marriage, a function solely of the church; and civil union, a function of the state. In a grid, this would produce four possibilities:
1) Married + Civil Union, a lawful marriage recognized by church and state.
2) Neither, what we call single
3) Civil union only, available for 'common law', atheists, and homosexuals giving them legal functions.
4) Marriage only, available to seniors and others who insist in the state not being aware of their union (it has it's advantages)

[UnbornChild]

Why should civil unions be funded, and not marriage?

If marriage is what the state really wants to promote, then it should call it marriage, and not promote a watered-down version with fewer responsibilities (and all the benefits) call civil unions.