Although the latter of those proposals has been widely commended, Coalition for Marriage Chairman, Colin Hart says: "Extending civil partnerships to unmarried couples will profoundly undermine marriage. It will be seen as a low commitment form of the institution - a sort of marriage lite."
The proposals would also mean traditionally-married couples would not be given a marriage certificate on the day and there would be an electronic register instead of an official one in churches.
Colin Hart added in a statement: "While denying couples a marriage certificate on their happy day does nothing to modernise the institution of marriage, or support husbands and wives, it just seems mean spirited. "
Speaking of how extension of civil partnerships still only helps couples, he commented: "This scheme will do nothing to solve the real cases of hardship amongst family members such as two sisters who live together for company and to share the bills."
However, many Christians favour the move as they say it leaves traditional marriage for those who to want to honour God with their union, whilst non-religious couples would no longer have to pretend to in traditional services.
Civil Partnerships provide legal and financial protection in the case of a split and don't necessarily come with any religious connotations.
The law, proposed by Tim Loughton MP, is being reviewed by the Government.
Very pleased my Bill started its long journey through Parliament w/ support across the @HouseofCommons + powerful speeches. I'm confident my Bill will correct inequalities and irregularities in how we register love, marriage and stillbirths. https://t.co/sqAbozJ369
— Tim Loughton MP (@timloughton) 2 February 2018
Loughton said in parliament that it is "not fair" for heterosexual partners to not have access to civil partnerships.
Also on his Private Member's Bill is the call to put Mothers' names on birth certificates and for stillborns to be registered.
The Home Office say they are considering the changes and who it would, effect, such as the Church of England and the Church in Wales.
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