The United States is home to about 7 percent of all Catholics in the world. As of 2010, an estimated 23 percent of U.S. adults and 24 percent of the total U.S. population are Catholic. The U.S. Catholic population has lost more members than it has gained from denominational switching.
Definition of civil union. : the legal status that ensures to same-sex couples specified rights and responsibilities of married couples.
A civil union must be contracted openly before an officiant competent to solemnize marriages and in the presence of two witnesses. The spouses in a civil union have the same rights and obligations. They owe each other respect, fidelity, succour and assistance. They are bound to live together.