(November 21, 2017 at 7:25 pm)Succubus Wrote:(November 21, 2017 at 7:07 pm)Neo-Scholastic Wrote: Lots of diversion, none of which addresses my point that a secular civil marriage has an essential objective character that distinguishes it from other types of relationships and social institutions.
All marriages are civil marriages, there is no such thing as a sacramental marriage. Two people married by a priest are not married until they sign the papers, state papers. Other than that, I don't have the remotest idea what you're talking about.
Again, what objective essential feature distinguishes a marriage from any other relationship or social institution, like roommates, business partners, care-givers with power of attorney, and the like?