All marriage vows that are made without impediment result in a marriage bond (same sex couples face an insurmountable impediment).
Marriage is meant for the benefit of society, not exclusively the couple. This is the vary nature of marriage. The church cannot divorce the ecclesiastical elements of marriage from its civil elements. To do so creates an unnatural union that benefits no one and only causes confusion.
Let us, for argument’s sake, call a natural marriage union between man and wife a “Houple” (holy couple). Now the Catholic Church only celebrates Houples. The Sacrament of Houpledom.
Do non-Catholics that “marry” at a courthouse form a Houple? Yes, according to Catholic doctrine. Does a same sex couple? No.
Catholic doctrine remains exactly the same, but all we’ve done is add an obtuse and silly word that makes communicating Catholic doctrine all the more difficult.
Marriage is a fundamental part of human nature. To spread the Gospel, we need to use clear language, not invent silly words to play games with the legal system.
