I’d expect the religious types to be the more anti-chimera. Especially in America, where the religious extremists also tend to be racist. You may be a decent religious person, but that doesn’t mean being religious invariably leads to being a better person.
Let’s not forget they’re talking about Virginia, too, which is technically part of a region of America known as the ‘South’, which has a reputation (at least a stereotype) of having religiously boisterous people who are quite racist, at least when it comes to mingling. Shocking in this day and age, I know, but there are still Southerners who would disown their children if they dated someone with different skin color.
Consider your case of arabic/islamic immigrants… Our Southern Baptists, Evangelicals, and such aren’t all that different in terms of intolerance, and they are the establishment in the South. Our ‘strong christianity’, as you call it, is actually a sad state of affairs where we have lots of people claiming to follow Jesus, while also expressing such bigoted, intolerant, and greedy views as to be utterly unchristian, and then going on to try and FORCE their perspective of christianity on EVERYONE, ignoring the fact not everyone is even Christian in this country, and even proclaiming the nation as a ‘christian nation’, ignoring the fact that the founders were deists who made a point of keeping religion from taking over government, or vice versa.

You are gloomy… ;D
The government, strictly speaking, isn’t anti-chimera. Kat can vote, hold public office, and participate in legal discourse and property ownership. I think? Pretty sure.
As of this moment, the rule on Virginia’s books, as supported by the court, is that a marriage entered into with all lawful steps fulfilled to the best capacity that may be determined, is assumed binding, even if, at some later date, it is determined that, through no fault of their own, the couple’s nuptial is called into question.
Also, why would the local government bother to find out? Or know? The first time the couple’s name and the officiant’s have to be linked is when the forms are turned in, and they are certified upon receipt. Once they are certified, the state can’t try to annul a marriage, except in cases where one or both parties are proven to be legally incompetent (so the state can appoint a guardian; and then, it isn’t automatic, but a process – one that judges are traditionally opposed to, when sought by a third party). As Phil and Kate can enter into a legal contract, that isn’t currently the case.