Abstract

Since relevant changes in German constitutionallaw concerning the guaranteed right of territorial asylum for political refugees have taken place, a widespread public debate on interpretation and institutional shaping of this fundamental human right can be registered. As a valid part in this debate, efforts from within the Church have been made to instaU a compensation for the diagnosed loss of lawfullness and to point out the present deficiency of the composed constitutional right, fixed in the new article 16 a of the Grundgesetz. These efforts, manifested in the specific form of sanctuary, put on the agenda the general question of the relevance of christian conscience within the public context.Reminding the protestant tradition of the concept of conscience and confronting it with the philosophical concept of recognition, it can be said that from a christian point of view, the engagement in keeping fundamental human rights established, is a constituent part both of christian self-understanding and meaningful existence in society.