[Perndog]

The problem is that most people, even non-church types, are into the idea of marriage, and "civil union" is a much less significant thing in their minds. To only allow heterosexual marriage would cement the popular notion that homosexuals are a lesser form of humans.

That and marriage confers more and different legal privileges than civil union does.

Personally, I'm not in favor of the whole concept of marriage; monogamy is fine, but the only ceremony two people need to be faithful to each other is a promise between the two of them. Marriage was just a license to have sex back in the days when they invented Christianity, and now its only relevance comes from its continued overemphasis by society. But oh well.