/The state already deals with what was formerly the domain of marriage and divorce laws (i.e. custody and property distribution) without a marriage or divorce ever having taken place./
AMEN!!! Marriage has become a political football. Crying, “What difference does it make?” is giving up the field. Eliminating marriage altogether is leaving the field but taking the ball with you. Do you want to give up, or do you want to deny the leftists victory?
“Do you want to give up, or do you want to deny the leftists victory?”
I think when it comes to state sanctioned marriage, denying the kakistocrats victory is about the best we’re going to be able to get. Ironically, I think we’re most of the way there because fewer and fewer heterosexual couples are choosing to get married in either the sacramental or civil sense anyway. I know of several young couples who have had kids recently, and I can only recall one that was married.
I believe that the churches would be wise to more routinely allow sacramental marriage, and to skip being the unpaid agents of the state in solemnizing civil marriages. Concurrently I also think conservatives should act to end the farce of civil marriage.
With the exception of various weird couplings that want to obtain state sanction and recognition, civil marriage is on it’s last gasps anyway.