Technically, the contract becomes a common law contract
marriage remains a Church function to acknowledge the contract between an man and a women
Which is the way it should of been all along. The “state” got in the marriage business and the result is what we now have. Had it stayed as you say this wouldn’t be as big a deal.
The Right REALLY needs to learn to speak and debate properly!
CLC acknowledges between the persons (I haven’t researched on what ‘persons’ would entail. Just husband/wife, H/W/W, etc.??).
The church recognizes a marriage between man and women before God.
Coaching the debate in the way you’ve stated...You already lost the war on words.