[OJFord]

Well the point is that the state has to do _something_ since some sort of legal status is required for many purposes in most countries.

The described scenario in France means that you can have a religious marriage if you so wish; an official contract-signing 'event' out of necessity.

Makes sense IMO - not a government's job to tell a church who is or isn't allowed to marry under their religion.

[jefftk]

    since some sort of legal status is required for many
    purposes in most countries

The idea here is that you get rid of those "many purposes" and treat a married couple like any other people who have decided to spend their lives together.

[vasilipupkin]

that is what "married" means. Two people who have entered into a legal contract to spend their lives together and bear certain responsibilities with respect to each other and those in their custody. The religious interpretation of what it means is irrelevant for legal purposes in the US