And your priest ordaining your marriage is great, and the heart of the matter, but that DOES NOT record the act officially for purposes of public action.
Priests solemnize marriages that are already registered by the state. Without state registration in most states, you don't get to be treated as married by employers, governments, law enforcement, etc.
That is NOT saying that the government is "in the marriage business," far from it. The government becomes an officiant for the fact, in the case that the existence of the relationship is contested by an outside party.
In other words, someone can contest the fact that you are married (in the case of inheritance disputes, trials that demand testimony against your spouse, etc.), and the most durable proof you have is the certified document maintained by a government.
You realize that two people can have a legal, presentable, and binding document without having a “Government” stamp/signature on it... don’t you?
You seem to believe that without a government stamp tax then nothing is legal or lawful or provable in a court of law?
I suggest you do some basic research on contract law and binding agreements.
Then read up on how marriage contracts (heck, even Wills) were drawn up in pioneer America, pre-1750.
And to (Again) make my original point: The marriage license collected the tax that “permitted” my marriage to occur because the State has written that it is a legal requirement, but I was not MARRIED until my Priest did the ceremony.
You understand the difference - and my point - I hope.