Fight for human dignity: Bishops warn against election of judges in Hesse!

Fight for human dignity: Bishops warn against election of judges in Hesse!

In Hesse and beyond, the SPD's nomination of Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf as a constitutional judge is attracting increasing attention. The discussion about their position on abortion is causing a lot of controversy and polarizing society. On Friday, the Bundestag will decide on her election, which should not have been on the agenda, but the pressure from the public seems to be too great to continue ignoring the issue. Limburg Bishop Georg Bätzing, who is also chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, spoke out clearly in favor of Brosius-Gersdorf. In his defense, he emphasizes that she should not lose the recognition she deserves. This support comes at just the right time, as bishops from various dioceses have already expressed their concerns that no one who questions the human dignity of embryos or fetuses should be entrusted with the interpretation of the Basic Law, it was reported [hessenschau].

The situation comes to a head after Bamberg Archbishop Herwig Gössl withdrew his allegations against Brosius-Gersdorf and described his previous statements as regrettable. He stated that he was “misinformed.” At a time when society is arguing about the issue of abortion, Brosius-Gersdorf's nomination is viewed highly critically by the Catholic Church. Critics, including from the CDU, insinuated that Brosius-Gersdorf supported abortion up to birth and described her stance as “ultra-left”.

The discourse about abortion

Brosius-Gersdorf has taken a clear position in the debate: She is in favor of legalizing abortions in the early stages, but rejects the claim that the embryo has no right to life. This contradicts the positions of the Federal Constitutional Court, which has granted human dignity to the unborn since 1993. The issue of abortion is becoming particularly explosive, as future jurisprudence depends heavily on the election of the new constitutional judge. The current paragraph 218a, which Bätzing describes as a “smart balance” between the right to self-determination and the protection of unborn life, therefore has the potential to be brought back into the conversation through Brosius-Gersdorf's nomination, and not just from a legal perspective.

But it's not just the Catholic Church that is skeptical. The Protestant Church is generally more open to a more liberal regulation, which further complicates the situation. In a condensed political landscape, the SPD and CDU have agreed that Brosius-Gersdorf cannot take over the office of President or Vice-President of the Federal Constitutional Court. This could mean that the necessary two-thirds majority for her election may not be achieved.

A culture war underway?

In his statements, Bishop Bätzing warns of a culture war that could emerge from the debate over Brosius-Gersdorf's nomination. He is concerned about those who profit from such conflicts that arise from society. In addition to the legal aspects, the discussion about the protection and dignity of life before and after birth is brought to the fore. Bishops like Oster and Voderholzer emphasize the need to recognize human dignity in every person, regardless of their life situation.

All of this is happening against the background of a long-standing push for reform by the SPD and the Greens, which wanted to take a closer look at the regulations on abortion. But the idea of ​​removing abortions from the criminal code and regulating them in the Pregnancy Conflict Act threatens to fade into the background, while the nomination of Brosius-Gersdorf reignites the discussion.

For many it is clear: The decision made on Friday could not only have a lasting impact on the laws on abortion and the treatment of human dignity in Germany, but also on the foundations of social coexistence. It remains exciting to see how the political landscape will develop in the coming period and what impact this will have on the people who are at the center of this debate.