Department of Religious Affairs of the Federal Chancellery

Interface between State and Religious Communities

Initiators
Federal Chancellery

Occasion
The Department of Religious Affairs (Kultusamt) implements the relations regulated by laws between state and the churches as well as religious and denominational communities. The Kultusamt dates back to 1849, originating from the first “Ministerium für Cultusangelegenheiten” (Ministry for Religious Affairs)

Target Groups

  • Officially recognized churches and religious communities
  • State-registered religious denominational communities
  • Administrative authorities and citizens

Objectives
Functioning as the highest authority of religious affairs, the Department of Religious Affairs implements the legal regulations governing religion, including decisions on applications relating to the acquisition of a legal personality as state-registered religious denominational community, the recognition of churches and religious societies, national laws and regulations pertaining to the external relations of churches and religious communities as well as religious denominational communities, all taking into account a fundamental neutrality of the state. The relationship between state and church is referred to as cooperation system which provides for a collaboration between state authorities and churches and religious societies.

Apart from the immediate legal regulations pertaining to religious affairs there are numerous regulations which, as cross-sectional matters, do not fall within the scope of responsibilities of the Department of Religious Affairs directly but relate to the legal rights of churches and religious societies as well as the legal status of religious denominational communities. Here, that is, in cases where other ministries, governments of the Federal States, courts, public authorities and administrative bodies come into contact with religious societies for the implementation of regulations, or in cases where religious matters of citizens are affected, the Department of Religious Affairs takes on an informatory and advisory role.

Topics

  • State and religions
  • Implementation of national laws on religions
  • Recognition of churches and religious communities in Austria
  • Legal procedures for the acquisition of a legal personality as state-registered religious denominational community
  • Coordinating function in respect to the rights of churches and religious communities as well as the legal status of state-registered religious denominational communities
  • Regulation of pastoral care in state institutions

Duration
According to the prescriptions relating to administrative procedures, or, for law-making procedures according to parliamentary processes respectively.

Activities

  • Implementation of all laws and regulations pertaining to religious affairs
  • Dialogue and cooperation between state and churches or religious communities
  • Draft proposals for regulation and laws pertaining to religious affairs
  • Legal recognition of churches and religious communities
  • Information and advisory services relating to religion-related legal matters
  • Interface for cross-sectional matters relating to religion
  • Participation in religion-related discourses on macrosocial topics, constitutional rights and science

Form of Organization
Administrative office under the authority of the Federal Chancellery, currently consisting of 12 staff members and four units.

Funding
Federal Chancellery of the Austrian Republic. The Department of Religious Affairs is part of the public administration.

Products

  • Draft laws
  • Administrative procedures relating to legally recognized churches and religious societies in Austria as well as registered religious denominational communities
  • Website with information, announcements and official notices
  • Brochure: Religions in Austria. Overview of the religious societies recognized in Austria. Vienna 2021. Available for download at Kultusamt - Bundeskanzleramt Österreich

Website l Social Media l Contact
https://www.bundeskanzleramt.gv.at/agenda/kultusamt.html

Bundeskanzleramt Österreich
Ballhausplatz 2
A-1010 Wien

T: +43 1 53115-0
E-mail: kultusamt@bka.gv.at

 

editor: ll / update: jk / ew 2022