CIVIL UNION ACT AS separate but = to the Marriage Act

(a) Civil union b) registration process c) legal consequences d) termination of civil unions.

1 In essence it only covers same-sex marriages.

2 It explores one side of the bill only - that of civil partnership – it does not define marriage. Civil union means the voluntary union of 2 persons of the same sex concluded in terms of this Act

3 Whilst we welcome the progressiveness of the bill with re to same sex marriage, clearly it is still unconstitutional that other religions and spiritual groupings cannot marry legally.

4 Interesting enough the current marriage act does not cover same sex marriages.

5 In a secular state such as ours it unthinkable that one dominant religion - Christianity can still manipulate legislation. In a true democracy this would have changed a long time ago. It's unthinkable that a secular state should have a bias toward certain Christian denominations.

6 By not clearly defining the union between heterosexual or same sex partners within the paradigm of a marriage, leaving it all to a 'civil' partnership, the current status quo remains unconstitutional and unchanged

7 There has been a call for a Reformed Marriage Act, which would run parallel to the Civil Union Act. It would include same same =sex marriages.

8 An important amendment is that the Minister of Home Affairs may now designate ministers of any religion or persons holding a responsible position in any designated religious institution to become religious marriage officers. We welcome this important amendment but at the same time do not see the practicality of this when other religions are not yet recognised.

9 There are therefore a no of things that will be challenged in the constitutional court. The concerns of non-Christian religions must be accommodated.

10 Other countries approaches to these dilemmas need to be looked at