Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg, president of the German Bishops’ Conference, praised the Basic Law as “a great treasure” on the conference website, saying the constitution was “formulated as a counter-draft to a totalitarian system, which is why it rightly names the reference points of all responsibility right at the beginning: God and man. Our liberal democracy stands on the foundation of this responsibility.”
Gerber emphasized the concept of responsibility embedded in the Basic Law. “Our faith is based on trust in God and God’s view of us humans. After 1945, we were given an undeserved new beginning with the opportunity to live in peace and freedom. This new beginning is interpreted as an undeserved gift — as grace.”
The German Basic Law was crafted in the aftermath of the Nazi regime and World War II, serving as a bulwark against tyranny and totalitarianism. It was influenced significantly by Christian values and the Catholic Church, aiming to prevent the recurrence of past atrocities. The constitution’s preamble, “Conscious of their responsibility before God and man,” highlights this commitment to human dignity and ethical governance.
Bishop Heinrich Timmerevers of Dresden-Meissen also underscored the significance of the Basic Law.
“The creators of this constitution had created a firm foundation against the background of our history that unites Christianity and the Enlightenment, faith and reason,” he said, according to CNA Deutsch. “The 75th anniversary of the Basic Law makes me look back with gratitude on this common foundation of our coexistence.”
Timmerevers highlighted the ongoing relevance of the Basic Law in addressing contemporary challenges.
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