Straight Couples Opting For Civil Unions Over Marriage

Many French heterosexual couples are choosing to get something called a Civil Solidarity Pact (shortened to PACS) over a traditional church marriage:

The PACS was introduced a decade ago by France's then-Socialist Party government. Parliament approved the measure only after a fierce debate because, although its wording was deliberately ambiguous, the arrangement was understood mainly as a way for gay couples to legalize their unions even though under French law they are not allowed to marry.

In passing the law without making it specific to gays, however, France distinguished itself from other European countries that have approved civil unions or even marriage for same-sex couples. As a result of that ambiguity, the PACS broadened into an increasingly popular third option for heterosexual couples, who readily cite its appeal: It has the air of social independence associated with the time-honored arrangement that the French call the "free union" but with major financial and other advantages. It is also far easier to get out of than marriage.

The number of PACS celebrated in France, both gay and heterosexual unions, has grown from 6,000 in its first year of operation in 1999 to more than 140,000 in 2008, according to official statistics. For every two marriages in France, a PACS is celebrated, the statistics show, making a total of half a million PACSed couples, and the number is rising steadily.

Last year, 92% of all PACS were for straight couples, up from an initial 42%. There are more than a few conservative critics of this trend who say that PACs "harm society." But PACS have become a way to rebel against the old ways, and "Setting up such households has become a declaration of independence from religion and crusty social traditions."

For these reasons, I'm all for them and hope they spread to other countries. However, even those who oppose civil unions shouldn't worry. If you still want a tradition marriage, in a church, under the watchful, judging eye of our Lord, you're still more than welcome to it.