More than 3,000 people took part in the annual rally at the March For Life in Berlin on September 19 2020. Due to the Covid-19 restrictions the number was lower than in the last few years. In 2019 about 8,000 people took part in the March. Even this number may sound very small compared to the Pro-Life rallies in other countries. But in Germany the Pro-Life movement is not very big, yet growing year by year.
The highlights of this March were the presentation of the German trailer of the famous movie “Unplanned” and musical acts of OutbreakBand and the singer Bernarda Brunovic. The German Pro-Life organization Bundesverband Lebensrecht organizes the March annually and presented its current demands to the politicians:
For a better protection of life, starting with conception. For an end of euthanasia and assisted suicide. For an end of preimplantation genetic diagnosis. For the preservation of the German Embryo Protection Act. For an end of surrogacy worldwide. For ethical vaccines and the end of using cells of aborted children for the vaccine production. For the rights of pregnant women for help, protection and information.
Priority of human dignity
In her speech Alexandra Linder, chairwoman of the BVL, emphasized the priority of human dignity, which should not be subordinated to other rights such as autonomy or self-determination: “Only with the human dignity, which every human being has unconditionally from his existence until his death, can a humane constitutional state survive,” explained Linder.
Johannes Singhammer, the former Vice President of the German Bundestag, talked about a holistic concept of creation, since man was part of creation, and warmly thanked all participants for standing up for the right to life publicly and visibly. The singer Bernarda Brunovic called out after her gig: “We need a change in society, in ideologies. Life is so beautiful, every life is unique, we must stand up for it!”
A mother, who did not abort her daughter despite anencephaly, gave a moving testimony: “The pressure on us to have an abortion was very high and very tempting at a particularly difficult time. We are very happy that we were allowed to hold Hanna in our arms as well.”
More security due to pro-abortion protests
This year there were more security precautions than before. In the past, there have been attacks by pro-abortion protesters, who tried to interrupt the March with illegal Sit-ins. They even tore wooden crosses from the hands of the March participants and threw them into the Berlin river Spree.
Fortunately this year there were not any big attacks on the Pro-Lifers, but there were still pro-abortion protesters along the March, shouting insults and showing obscene signs. The police arrested 19 and sent off 15 pro-abortion protesters.
Growing Pro-Life movement
There have also been a growing number of Pro-Life side-events on this weekend: The youth organizations Youth For Life and ProLifeEurope had each own youth congresses with communications workshops, street activism and movie nights, where “Unplanned” was shown. “We have managed to attract so many new people and received a lot of positive feedback”, explained Youth For Life-spokeswoman Fabiola Kaminski.
Bundesverband Lebensrecht had a conference on the day before the March with renowned speakers and – due to the Covid-19 restrictions – 60 participants. The subject was “Human bonds: The limits of autonomy and self-determination”. In a keynote speech, Christoph Böhr, professor for philosophy, gave an ethical classification of human dignity and self-determination. He illustrated how subtle heteronomy can be and how it can significantly influence an alleged self-determination.
Next level science: prenatal psychology
The pregnancy counselor Silke Nixdorff presented the young research field of prenatal psychology. She demonstrated the importance and influence of the existential bond from conception to birth and the associated experiences for the entire further life of a person. The physician Holm Schneider explained the risks for child and mother of treating genetic characteristics and diseases in the womb before birth.
Christian Spaemann, specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapeutic medicine, spoke about the end of life. He reported on his practical experience with suicidal patients and illustrated the dangers for people and society of what is considered absolute autonomy and self-determination.
Next year’s March already planned
Bundesverband Lebensrecht already announced next year’s March: On September 18 2021 the German Pro-Lifers will reassemble in Berlin. Before that there will a big Pro-Life congress from March 12 until March 14 2021 in Schönblick and a March For Life in Munich on March 20 2021.
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