Traditional marriage proponents need to start referring to it by its full title: “holy matrimony.”
That would put a quick end to any claim by homosexual couples.
You nailed it.
If it is a matter of calling it "Marriage" or "Holy Matrimony" or "Civil Union", then maybe the answer it to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and render unto God the things that are God's.
The State, whether it be the State of California or the Government of the United States, does not deal in "holiness" or religious meaning. The State deals with inheritance law, allowable deductions on your 1040 Form or your California Income Tax Form, who gets stuck with paying alimony in case of a divorce, etc., etc.
A ceremony performed at the Courthouse by a Justice of the Peace "by the authority vested in me by the State of California" deals only with "the things that are Caesar's". God is not even mentioned ...... or else the ACLU would file a "separation of Church and State" lawsuit.
Only religious marriage ceremonies ever mention God and each religion defines what it and what is not considered "Holy Matrimony".
So, why don't we take the definition of "Holy Matrimony" out of the Courthouse and out of the hands of secular Judges and put it back in the Church or the Temple where it belongs?
Let the State issue the licenses and make the laws regarding "the things that are Caesar's" and have the State deal only in the creation of "Civil Unions" FOR EVERYBODY.
So, the State wants to consider that Adam and Eve or Adam and Steve are in "Civil Union" that allows them this or that tax category and allows the State to decide who will get how much of the other person's stuff if they break up. Fine. Whatever floats the State's boat.
Once you jump through the legal hoops, you then get a Certificate from the State proclaiming that Person A is now in a "Civil Union" with Person B ...... a purely legal act that has no more moral or spiritual implications than forming an S Corporation for your small business.
In the meantime, for example, the Catholic Church will maintain that Adam and Steve are NOT joined by Holy Matrimony.
As a matter of fact, if Adam and Eve never bothered to go to the Church to obtain the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, the Catholic Church will maintain that NEITHER Adam and Eve NOR the other Adam and Steve are "married". In the eyes of the Catholic Church, BOTH couples are "living in sin".
Not even a unanimous ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States can change that.
So, if you want "Holy Matrimony", and you want to render unto God the things that are God's, you go to your Catholic Church or Baptist Church or Synagogue and the Priest or Minister or Rabbi will perform the ritual, before God.
Then God, not the pencil-pushers of the State, the will define "Holy Matrimony".
"Marriage" is a term that has very deep religious connotations and the State, by the First Amendment, has no business redefining the term or using the term if it differs from the traditional religious meaning.
So that is the solution:
Have the State only declare "Civil Unions" FOR EVERYBODY. Have the State stick to "the things that are Caesar's". Have the State stick to tax regulations, inheritance laws and divorce lawyers fighting over alimony payments.
Have the Churches and Temples "stick to the things that are God's" and decree, according to their own religious law and traditions, who is actually in a state of "Holy Matrimony" in the eyes of God.
"But .... but ...... Adam and Steve claim that they have a 'Marriage' when all they have is a 'Civil Union'!"
So? What does it matter what Adam and Steve call it?
"How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg." .... Abraham Lincoln
That’s it. It’s a language thing. There is now and will be a need to draw a distinction. The word “marriage” is being altered in meaning. There is still a need to draw that distinction. Maybe it will be “traditional marriage”. That will be the new target? That was my first inclination, but I like “holy matrimony” better.