Austria's Religious Divide: Catholic Or Protestant?

Austria is a predominantly Christian country, with 68.2% of the population identifying as such, according to a 2021 national survey. Among Christians, 80.9% are Catholic, 7.2% are Orthodox Christians, 5.6% are Protestant, and the remaining 6.2% belong to other Christian denominations. While Christianity is the dominant religion, Austria guarantees freedom of religion in its constitution and has seen a rise in Islam, Paganism, and other religions.

Austria's religious landscape

Austria has a long history as a Catholic country, dating back to the time of the Holy Roman Empire when Vienna was its capital. The country was the centre of the Catholic Habsburg monarchy from 1273 to 1918, and the Catholic Church remains a significant presence in Austrian life, with its beautiful churches, shrines, monasteries and cathedrals. However, the influence of the Church in everyday life is declining, and the number of Catholics has been decreasing over the past few decades, with an increasing number of people leaving the Church when they reach adulthood. This is often attributed to the Austrian Church Tax and criticism of the Church's conservative stance on issues such as homosexuality.

Despite this, Austria remains a country with a strong religious influence, and it has a high tolerance for religious freedom. The legal system is religiously neutral, and freedom of religion is guaranteed by law. There are 16 legally recognised churches and religious communities and 10 state-registered confessional communities in Austria.

Islam is the second-largest religion in Austria, with 8.3% of the population identifying as Muslim in the 2021 census. This is largely due to immigration, especially from Turkey and the Balkans. The number of Muslims in Austria has grown exponentially over the last few decades, and Austria was the first western country to officially recognise Muslims as a religious community in 1912.

Eastern Orthodox Christianity is also growing in Austria, currently making up 4.9% of the population. This is also due to immigration, particularly from the Balkans, with Serbs being the largest group of Eastern Orthodox Christians in the country.

A small but notable presence of other religions can also be found in Austria, including Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, and Pagan movements.

Catholicism in Austria

History

World War II

The events of World War II had a significant impact on the Catholic community in Austria. During the Anschluss, the German annexation of Austria, the Catholic Church was subject to oppression and persecution. Many religious leaders and laypersons were deported to concentration camps, tortured, executed, or driven to suicide. Since the end of the war, the Catholic religion and the church's influence have been in decline.

Modern Day

Today, some Austrians continue to practise Catholic traditions such as baptism, confirmation, marriage, and funerals. However, most Austrians who identify as Catholic do not necessarily hold Catholic beliefs on central social and moral issues. The younger generation tends to be less devout, and it is common for young Austrians to withdraw their membership from the Catholic Church when they become adults due to the 'Kirchensteuer' (church tax).

Other Factors in Decline

The decline in Catholicism in Austria has also been attributed to various other factors, including criticism of the church's conservative stance on issues such as emancipation and homosexuality, as well as revelations of past mistreatment of children by Catholic religious leaders.

Other Religious Groups in Austria

The religious landscape of Austria has undergone a radical change in the past century, largely due to historical events and immigration. The Muslim community, for example, has grown exponentially in recent decades, with an estimated 686,599 Muslims in the country as of 2016, comprising 7.9% of the total population.

Additionally, the number of Austrians identifying with Orthodox Christianity has also increased, with 4.9% of the population identifying as Orthodox Christians in 2021, up from 2.2% in 2001. This growth is largely due to the influx of South Slavic immigrants from the Balkans.

Legal Recognition of Religious Groups

Austria guarantees freedom of religion in its constitution, and various religious groups have been legally recognised over the years. In addition to the Catholic Church, legally recognised churches and religious communities include the Protestant Church, the Orthodox Church, the Jewish Religious Association, and the Islamic Religious Community, among others.

Protestantism in Austria

In the 18th century, the Austrian enlightenment era saw a relaxation of the suppression of non-Catholic religions. In 1781, Emperor Joseph II issued a Patent of Tolerance, allowing other confessions a limited freedom of worship. This was followed by the Austro-Hungarian Ausgleich in 1867, which declared religious freedom a constitutional right, reflecting the fact that the monarchy was home to numerous religions besides Catholicism.

In the 20th century, the decline of the Habsburg monarchy and the transformation of Austria into a federal republic led to a further decline in Christianity (with the exception of Orthodox churches) and a proliferation of other religions, particularly in Vienna. According to a 2021 national survey, 5.6% of Christians in Austria are Protestants, while another source estimates that the combined membership of Lutherans and Reformists represents 4% of the Austrian population, with the majority belonging to the Lutheran Church.

Other religions in Austria

Austria is a country with a rich religious history and diversity. While it is predominantly Christian, with a majority Catholic population, there are several other religions practised in the country.

Islam

Islam is the second-largest religion in Austria, with around 8% of the population identifying as Muslim. This is largely due to immigration, especially from Turkey and the Balkans. The recognition of Muslims as a religious community in Austria dates back to 1912 with the Anerkennungesetz (“Act of Recognition”), making Austria the first western country to do so. The Islamic Centre Mosque, built in 1975, is located in the 21st district of Vienna and has a 32-metre-high minaret.

Judaism

Austria once had a significant Jewish population, with around 200,000 Jews living in Vienna alone before World War II. However, the community was devastated by the Holocaust and mass emigration, reducing the population to around 4,500. Today, the Jewish Community in Vienna has approximately 7,000 members, mostly made up of postwar immigrants from Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Buddhism

Austria has a legally recognised Buddhist community, with around 10,000 practitioners, most of whom are Austrian nationals. Vienna, being the centre of Austrian Buddhism, is home to most Buddhist temples and centres in the country.

Hinduism

Hinduism is a minority religion in Austria, with around 3,629 adherents according to the 2001 census. The 'Hindu Community in Austria' (HRÖ) serves as the official representative of Hindus in the country and has been active since 1998.

Paganism

Austria, like many other European countries, has witnessed a growth in Pagan movements in recent years. This includes Druidic (Druidentum), Germanic Heathen (Heidentum), Wiccan, and Neopagan witchcraft (Hexentum) groups.

Religious freedom in Austria

Austria is a predominantly Catholic country, with 80.9% of its Christian population identifying as Catholic. However, religious freedom is a statutorily guaranteed right in Austria. The legal foundation for this freedom was created over a period of about two centuries, starting with the Patents of Tolerance of 1781/82.

The Austrian Constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and creed, as laid out in Article 14 of the Basic Law on the General Rights of Nationals of 1867. This, in combination with the Law regarding Inter-confessional Relationships of 1868, guarantees every resident in Austria the right to join or leave any church or religious community by free choice or to abstain from belonging to any of them.

The Austrian legal system is to be qualified as religiously neutral, precluding any identification of the state with a specific church or religious community. The tasks and objectives of the state are exclusively worldly and non-spiritual. The state and church are considered partners on an equal footing, each acknowledging the independence and autonomy of the other.

In recent years, Austria has increased its activities for the promotion of freedom of religion and the protection of religious minorities at the bi- and multilateral levels. The Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs established an interreligious dialogue platform in 2014, bringing together representatives of all 16 legally acknowledged religious communities in Austria. Additionally, the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue, set up in Vienna in 2012, provides another important dialogue platform with a focus on combating all forms of discrimination and stereotyping based on religion or belief.

Austria has also been active at the international and European levels, addressing the issue of freedom of religion with various countries and partner organisations. It has supported the mandates of the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief and the UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues. Thanks to Austrian advocacy, freedom of religion and the protection of religious minorities have become priority issues for the European Union, leading to the drafting of the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

While the Austrian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, there have been some concerns about the treatment of certain religious groups. The 1998 Law on the Status of Religious Confessional Communities established the status of "confessional communities," but some groups feel that this law imposes additional criteria that obstruct recognition and formalises a second-class status for non-recognised groups.

The Jehovah's Witnesses, for example, have faced challenges in being recognised as a religious society under the 1874 Law on Recognition of Churches. They have taken their case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), arguing for their right to be recognised as a religious entity in the country.

Despite these concerns, Austria remains committed to promoting religious freedom and protecting the rights of religious minorities, both domestically and internationally.

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