France Enshrines “Right” to Abortion in Constitution

Centuries ago, France became the first nation after the fall of the Roman Empire to have Catholicism as the state religion when its monarch was baptized in 496 (thus receiving the nickname the “eldest daughter of the church”). But the nation has tragically moved far away from its Catholic heritage since. It has now become the first country to attack preborn life explicitly in its constitution. Now, the constitution will enshrine the “fundamental right” to abortion, thereby guaranteeing women the ability to have an abortion. Article 34 of the French Constitution will now include: “…the law determines the conditions by which is exercised the freedom of women to have recourse to an abortion, which is guaranteed.”

French parliamentarians voted on Monday – 780 voted in favor of abortion becoming a constitutional “right,” 72 voted against, and 50 abstained. This measure was proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron in response to the Dobbs ruling in 2022 in the United States, saying, “In 2024, women’s freedom to have an abortion will be irreversible.” France’s hope is that other nations will follow their example, eventually changing their own constitutions to “protect” the “right” to kill preborn children.

Unfortunately, this anti-life mentality is deeply rooted in French politics. There is no major French parliamentary party that opposes abortion, so there was little question as to whether this measure would be passed. Indeed, a recent poll showed the vast majority of respondents supported the “right” to an abortion. So, while disappointing, France’s vote on Monday is not at all surprising. It has strayed far from its Catholic heritage, and it no longer protects the values of the Catholic faith. And while the majority of French citizens are “culturally Catholic,” very few (only about 4.5%) attend Mass.

Monday’s vote to change the constitution is expected to make it all the harder for pro-life efforts in France. For now, elective abortions in France remain legal up to 14 weeks. Pray that the nation may return to its Catholic roots and embrace the value of human life, and that those who have fallen asleep in the faith may be woken with renewed vigor for the Lord.