Germany's 20th March for Life took place on September 21st in Berlin and Cologne with over 8,000 people. Also in Berlin were many religious including; Bishop Gregor Maria Hanke from Eichstätt, our Auxiliary Bishop Josef Graf, Auxiliary Bishop Florian Wörner from Augsburg and the Berlin Auxiliary Bishop Matthias Heinrich.
Bundesverband Lebensrecht released that, "Despite defamation, anti-democratic attempts at blockade, despite fearful restraint on the part of some committees and threats of violence: this year, as has been the case since 2002, thousands of people took to the streets for the right to life of all people - in both Cologne and Berlin, the number of participants increased slightly from last year, to a total of over 8,000 people." This is what Alexandra Linder, chairwoman of the Bundesverband Lebensrecht, said about the March for Life in Berlin and Cologne, which took place yesterday Saturday.
"The 20th March for Life in Berlin and the second March for Life in Cologne showed once again what the right to life is all about: inclusion, protecting people at the beginning and end of their lives, helping people who are in distress or threatened in difficult life situations. National and international panel guests illustrated this with a variety of contributions: In Berlin, members of the Brazilian community Comunidade de Jesus Menino showed how inclusion can be lived on an equal footing. And with Tônio Tavares, we experienced an extraordinary man who adopted 46 children and young people. The ethical and universal perspective of the right to life was illustrated by the Canadian ethicist Pablo Muñoz Iturrieta. Of historical interest to the BVL was the appearance of two founders of the March for Life in 2002, Walter Schrader and Hartmut Steeb. The Youth for Life and Alicia Düren, chairwoman of the Sundaysforlife organization, presented the future of the right to life movement: They are passionate, young, affirm and dare to live and are committed to life. The churches and religious communities were represented by five bishops and auxiliary bishops from the Catholic Church and representatives of the Evangelical Alliance Germany. In Cologne, the managing director of the SPUC, John Deighan, described his work and the growing movement in Great Britain. Fabian, a young man who lives with Down syndrome, made an impressive statement for life and the right to life. Hubert Hüppe, member of the Bundestag, pointed out the increasing selection of children with genetic abnormalities. For example, the NIPT, the prenatal blood test that looks for genetic abnormalities in unborn children, is being used far more frequently than planned, only in exceptional cases. People have a sense of injustice. That is why they pay close attention to how politicians deal with people in threatening situations at the beginning and end of their lives. And with two large, life-affirming demonstrations they have shown what they expect from politicians. The Federal Association for the Right to Life and its 15 member associations are going into the federal election year with five concrete demands on politicians."
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