"Vivid preoccupation" for a law which is running the risk of "equalling cohabitation with marriage", and in particular, of giving "a legal acknowledgement to cohabitation, with consequent rights and titles": it was expressed by John Hine, auxiliary bishop of Soutwark and president of the Bishops’ Commission for Marriage, the family and life in England and Wales. The British bill, it is written in a note, concerns the "financial consequences" for cohabitants, when they get separated, and "provides for a scheme for cohabitant couples getting separated, entirely different from the one applied when two spouses divorce". On the contrary, for the English Church, the State has "the duty to promote, maintain and safeguard marriage as the basis for family life, and as the best and most stable environment to raise children". "The couples living together and deliberately choosing not to get married recalls Hine give up responsibilities and marriage duties, and thus, the legal benefits of marriage, too". Therefore, it is not acceptable "to equal cohabitation with marriage", by establishing, in particular, "a minimum length of the cohabitation relationship" leading to "create a new juridical status for cohabitation".
