(LifeSiteNews) — Bishop Georg Bätzing, head of the German Catholic Bishops’ Conference, defended newly nominated judge Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, known for her pro-abortion stance, stating that the level of criticism directed at her was unwarranted.

In regard to the slew of criticism Brosius-Gersdorf had received so early in her nomination process, Bishop Bätzing stated in an interview with the Augsburger Allgemeine that she “doesn’t deserve to be damaged like this.”

Brosius-Gersdorf, who was recently nominated as a constitutional judge by the German Socialist Party, had been immediately criticized by high-ranking members in the Catholic Church for her liberal stance on abortion. Groups such as the conservative CDU/CSU parties had claimed her to be a radical leftist who held extremist views on abortion, such as advocating abortion up until birth. Archbishop Herwig Gössl of Bramberg had even called her nomination a “domestic political scandal.”

Brosius-Gersdorf denied the claims, calling them “defamatory” in an interview with German broadcast group ZDF.

“I have never advocated for the legalization or decriminalization of abortion up to birth,” she said.

Due to significant outcry from Catholics and conservatives, as well as the unlikely prospect of Brosius-Gersdorf securing the required two-thirds majority, the election has been postponed from its original date of July 11.

While the overwhelming majority of Catholics had been staunchly opposed to the liberal judge’s election, Bishop Bätzing saw the situation differently.

“A lot has gone wrong in this entire debate,” Bätzing said.

The bishop then claimed that the election of constitutional judges is “not a topic for a culture war.”

Regarding Brosius-Gersdorf’s liberal stance on abortion, Bishop Bätzing viewed the current laws, which allow abortion under certain circumstances, as an acceptable compromise.

“Why should one abandon the clear compromise that exists on the abortion issue and thereby potentially risk a social divide?” said the bishop.

Section 218a of the German Criminal Code outlaws most abortions, but allows them under certain circumstances, such as if the woman has received pregnancy counseling services before 22 weeks’ gestation.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church directly opposes any form of abortion under any condition.

Catechism 2271 says, “Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law,” and further asserts that any Catholic who aids in the procurement of one incurs a latae sententiae excommunication.