Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court officially ruled in 1975—and reaffirmed in 1993—that unborn children have a right to life.
But since 2024, a campaign to decriminalize abortion in Germany has demanded the government reclassify the deadly procedure as a standard medical option covered by health insurance. This effort, however, has faced staunch opposition from those committed to protecting the lives of both mothers and their unborn children.
At this point, abortion remains illegal under Section 218 of the country’s criminal code. Violations carry significant penalties: up to three years in prison or a fine, with up to five years in especially serious cases involving recklessness, manipulation or coercion involving the medical professional or third-party person. For the pregnant woman herself, the penalty is limited to up to one year in prison or a fine.
Currently, limited exceptions make certain abortions exempt from punishment (though they remain technically unlawful). Abortions performed by a physician up to 12 weeks after conception are not punishable if the woman has undergone mandatory state-approved counseling at a recognized pregnancy conflict counseling center and observed a three-day waiting period afterward.
Although many medical professionals understand an ectopic pregnancy to be entirely different from an abortion, the only other primary exemption covers situations where the physical or mental health of the mother would be in jeopardy (Germany has no strict gestational limit in those cases).
Though not explicitly part of the German Constitution, Section 218 intersects with it through landmark rulings by the Federal Constitutional Court. Even so, some policymakers in Parliament are seeking to erase it from the criminal code entirely. According to Daily Christian International, “A government-led commission recommended full decriminalization in 2024, but conservative and faith-led opposition has intensified in response to the proposal.”
Critics warn that removing Section 218 would open the floodgates to broader political, constitutional and cultural efforts that undermine the sanctity of life and legal protections for the unborn.
“It would undermine the protection of unborn lives and it would furthermore put additional pressure on women,” Reinhardt Schink, executive director of the Evangelical Alliance in Germany, said in a published statement.
He continued: “From the perspective of the Evangelical Alliance in Germany, such developments must be clearly rejected. A legal approach that relativizes the protection of unborn life ultimately undermines the very foundation of human dignity on which our constitutional order rests.”
Pro-life voices like Schink are sounding the alarm on the immediate threat to mothers and the unborn. Their concerns are compounded by a groundbreaking April report revealing rampant abuse of power and sexual harassment within German hospitals—conditions that could further endanger women if legal protections weaken.
Schink stated that there’s “a pattern of systemic failure” in Germany, adding “even in a society committed to human rights, the dignity of women and vulnerable persons is repeatedly violated.” He also posed a deeper question for hope and reflection: Is “a just society” even possible “without a reference to Jesus Christ”?
Christian McGrew, president and founder of the Defending Life Alliance of Florida, responded to Schink’s remarks and the ongoing abortion fight in Germany in a comment to Decision: “From my perspective, as a Christian pro-life advocate, a society that is truly centered around Jesus should prioritize protecting the preborn and their mothers.”
Whether in Germany or America, he added, “Believers should respond to culture and legal trends moving away from their foundation by staying strong in the fight to end abortion through the same methods we use to build cultures of life.”
According to McGrew, the focus must be on changing hearts and minds.
“Once those see change, the culture will follow,” he said. “Influencing politicians and the public with the truth of abortion is also extremely important to reverse the evil efforts that attempt to destroy our foundation.” He further noted, “As Christians, we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to literally fight against the forces that seek to destroy humanity through many dark efforts, including abortion.”
“This is why,” he emphasized, “it is necessary that our foundation is rooted in Jesus Christ. He is the only way we can defeat the enemy and his schemes.”
Schink concluded with a call to action: “Our society stands at a crossroads. We can continue to fragment human dignity into competing interests—or we can reaffirm its indivisibility: for women, for men, for the vulnerable and for the unborn. Silence in the face of injustice is never neutral. It always favors the stronger one who acts unjustly. Therefore, let us raise our voices—clearly, responsibly and with compassion—for a culture that protects life at every stage.”
Bible passages to ponder amid the fight for life: Psalm 139, Proverbs 31:8-9, Isaiah 1:17
