I dunno... If there is a separation of church and state...seems like the marriage part would be church, and should be performed as such... civil union seems like anything that the state uses for laws and such... I would consider a hetero couple going to the JOP for the legal benefits of marriage a "civil union" and a gay couple going to whatever religion and getting joined a "marriage" (if that is even what their particular faith would call it).

In the end it's just symantics. Marriages won't help gays love each other more any more than it helps "standard" couples - it just grants legal protection and rights. Which to me is what a civil union should be about.

I guess that changes the current system way too mch to work though:/