The inalienability of human rights and inviolability of human dignity enshrined in Article 1 of Germany's Basic Law is the fundamental ethical norm and supreme rule for all state actions and the key to understanding and interpreting the constitution itself. This paper examines the provisions made in Article 6 on marriage, family and children, testing how they measure up when faced with questions of respect for the dignity of the human body. Cultural configurations, gender distinctions, the reproduction of life that is bound to sexual union, the resultant human being as a monument to both parents, the physical as the basis of social identity, the juxtaposition of regular and divergent gender characteristics as well as predominant and differing transmissions of how to live life are all considered. The language of the legislation is clear, providing all forms of civil partnerships and their true diversity are taken into account, including, as one form among others, the heterosexual life partnership of marriage, whose uniqueness however is absolutely essential for the physical and cultural continuation of the community, because only in this is it possible for both partners to socialise jointly their own biological children.

Enthalten in:
Zeitschrift für Theologie und Kirche; 2018/1 (2018)

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Serie / Reihe: Zeitschrift für Theologie und Kirche

Personen: Herms, Eilert

Schlagwörter: Identität Sozialisation Ehe Familie Sozialethik Geschlecht Grundgesetz Menschenwürde Homosexualität Geschlechtsunterschied Zeugung