Evangelical concern over Austria aired

The World, European and Austrian Evangelical Alliances (WEA, EEA and EAÖ) have contributed to a report which expresses concern about freedom of religion, the abortion of unborn children with disabilities, and human trafficking in Austria.

The report, which also featured contributions from Herzwerk, which helps people in prostitution in Austria, criticises the Austrian government’s implementation of “a hierarchical system of recognition” of religious organisations, which it says discriminates against smaller and newer groups.

The “extremely high requirements” for legal recognition as churches, including a minimum membership of two per thousand of the population and recognition as a denominational community in Austria for at least ten years, are cited as being particularly problematic, representing “an insurmountable hurdle for new religious communities”, and creating an inequality of opportunity between groups, as those which are officially recognised have greater opportunities to hire pastors from abroad and receive tax-deductible contributions.

The authors also raised concerns surrounding greater leniency towards the abortion of disabled children. The law currently stipulates that abortion after 12 weeks is punishable, unless involving babies who are “at serious risk” of “severe mental or physical damage”, in which case it is permissible until birth. They said that “such unequal treatment should be abolished” and that the law should be revised.

Additionally, the report made recommendations concerning human trafficking. While it welcomed the state’s attempts to tighten certain regulations, it called for other civil organisations to be involved in supporting and identifying victims, and for greater protection for survivors.

Oliver Stozek, General Secretary of the EAÖ, told en that it is part of the EAÖ’s “DNA” to “advocate for the protection of life, religious freedom and human trafficking”.

However, Stozek reflected: “When reading through the current government programme, one notices that the words ‘church’, ‘faith’ and ‘Christian’ do not appear anywhere in the text.

"This can certainly be blamed on the coalition, but it is probably better to see it as a question for ourselves; obviously, we are no longer a formative social force.”