United States Department of State

“ The 1998 law allows nonrecognized religious groups to seek official status as "confessional communities" without the fiscal and educational privileges available to recognized religions. To apply groups must have at least 300 members and submit to the Government their written statutes describing the goals, rights, and obligations of members, as well as membership regulations, officials, and financing. ”

“ The Government is secular. The Roman Catholic Church is the predominant religion in Austria; many Roman Catholic holidays are also government holidays.
The status of religious organizations is governed by the 1874 Law on Recognition of Churches and by the 1998 Law on the Status of Religious Confessional Communities, which establishes the status of "confessional communities." Religious organizations may be divided into three legal categories (listed in descending order of status) : Officially recognized religious societies, religious confessional communities, and associations. ”

“ The Government also provides police protection for Jewish Community institutions.
Muslims have complained about incidents of societal discrimination and verbal harassment. Several incidences of discrimination against Muslim women wearing headscarves in schools were reported since June 2003. In October 2003, a teacher at a fashion institute removed the headscarf of a Muslim girl during class, claiming that it posed a danger to her safety. Court-sponsored mediation later determined that she could not be prohibited from wearing a headscarf. ”

“ The Austrian Evangelical Alliance, the umbrella organization for non-recognized Christian organizations, has reported that in some urban centers, particularly Vienna and some cities in Lower Austria, the number of available visas is no longer sufficient to meet demand. ”

“ Although in the past nonrecognized religious groups had problems obtaining resident permits for foreign religious workers, administrative procedures adopted in 1997 have addressed this problem in part. Visas for religious workers of recognized religions are not subject to a numerical quota. Visas for religious workers who are members of nonrecognized religions are subject to a numerical cap. ”

“ Other groups found in the country include Divine Light Mission, Eckankar, Hare Krishna, the Holosophic community, the Osho movement, Sahaja Yoga, Sai Baba, Sri Chinmoy, Transcendental Meditation, Landmark Education, the Center for Experimental Society Formation, Fiat Lux, Universal Life, and The Family. ”