Religions

New Lockdown: No Public Church Services After December 27

Also during the upcoming lockdown, Austria's Minister of Cultural Affairs together with representatives of churches and religious communities have agreed to suspend all public church services until January 17. Places of worship will, however, stay open for personal prayers.

December 22, 2020

Lockdown: Public Church Services Suspended Until Further Notice

In addition to the measures put in place by the federal government, Austria's Minister of Cultural Affairs together with representatives of churches and religious communities have agreed to suspend all public church services until further notice. Places of worship will, however, stay open for personal prayers.

November 17, 2020

Austria's Foreign Minister: Hagia Sophia To Be Turned Into a Mosque Is the Latest Link in a Chain of Provocations

Turkey is moving further and further away from European values and is simply not a reliable partner for Europe. The EU must conduct a policy towards Turkey with a strong edge and clear language, based on a solid foundation of values. The EU should also make a clear cut when it comes to accession negotiations.

July 13, 2020

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Russian Embassy Vienna

The Russian Embassy in Vienna is the diplomatic representation of Russia vis-à-vis the Republic of Austria. Since 1891 it has been located in Reisnerstrasse in the 3rd district of Vienna, in the former palace of the banker Israel Simon and the Duke of Nassau. The two most important meetings that took place there were those between Nikita Khrushchev and John F. Kennedy, and between Leonid Brezhnev and Jimmy Carter.

September 19, 2019

Reception for Representatives of Churches and Religious Communities

Brigitte Bierlein and Alexander Schallenberg invited the representatives of the churches and religious communities based in Austria to the Federal Chancellery.

September 10, 2019

Inaugural Visit of the New Evangelical Lutheran Bishop Chalupka

The intertwining of climate change and justice as well as the responsibility of man and the Protestant Church before God were central points of the discussion.

September 10, 2019

Closure of Controversial King Abdullah Center in Vienna Decided

The Austrian National Council has decided to close the King Abdullah Centre in Vienna. The KAICIID - King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, which is largely financed by Saudi Arabia, has long been controversial. The imminent death sentence of 18-year-old Murtaja Qureiris in Saudi Arabia was the immediate cause. The majority decision of parliament must now be implemented by the Foreign Ministry under Alexander Schallenberg. The Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) spoke out in favour of a new centre under the auspices of the UN.

June 13, 2019

Headscarf Ban at Elementary Schools Confirmed by Austrian Federal Council

The so-called headscarf ban, the ban on covering the head of children from the age of six to ten for ideological and religious reasons, was approved by the Federal Council (Bundesrat) despite controversial debate. For Minister of Education Faßmann, the ban on headscarves corresponds to the socio-political consensus on the development of children as freely as possible and the necessity to overcome gender-specific stereotypes.

June 3, 2019

Austria's Religious Controversy over Good Friday Holiday - Statement of the ECJ

The judgement of the European Court of Justice published yesterday is now available at Vindobona.org and can be reviewed by interested parties. According to Chancellery Minister and Austrian People's Party government coordinator Gernot Blümel, the Austrian federal government will also do the same, according to which the status quo will be maintained and no new holiday will be introduced. But until Austria changes the clause, employers would have to grant all employees the right to a holiday on Good Friday. If employees could not make themselves free, they would be entitled to additional pay.

January 23, 2019

Veiled, Unveiled! The Headscarf - A Man’s Word on a Woman’s Body

An intriguing exhibition at the World Museum Vienna deals with the significance of the headscarf and thus also touches on a current dispute in various countries about a so-called headscarf ban. Just a piece of cloth but laden with countless facets of meaning is causing a stir: the headscarf used by devout women to cover their head, their face, and occasionally their whole body. The religious duty of women to cover their head has been part of European culture for centuries, though. Its story begins with early Christianity and has remained a vibrant issue to this day.

October 11, 2018

Foreign Ministry: "Freedom of Religion in Austria"

The first meeting of the Interreligious Dialogue Platform at the Austrian Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs took place. Integration Minister launches an initiative for dialogue with recognised churches and religious communities in Austria.

June 3, 2014
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