Consensus and Conflict in Times of Crisis: Religion in Austria during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Overall, religion was not an intensively discussed topic in Austria in relation to coronavirus. Governmental and religious actors collaborated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and Austria’s legally recognised religious communities supported governmental measures, such as lockdowns, social distancing, and the obligation to wear masks. This consensus was communicated in press conferences and regular meetings between the ministry in charge and religious representatives. Religious communities refrained from or restricted celebrating on site during lockdowns and introduced hygiene measures (e.g. disinfection of hands and artefacts, wearing masks, limiting singing, restricting numbers of participants during celebrations) for religious gatherings throughout the pandemic. Official representatives of the legally recognised religious communities also supported vaccination campaigns and several religious sites functioned as temporary vaccination stations. However, religious actors and elements were also present among anti-vaccination activists and protesters against COVID-19 measures, and they joined in with the propagation of conspiracy theories. In these protests, ultra-conservative Catholics, Evangelicals, and esotericists marched alongside followers of the radical right Identitarian movement and other extremists. Multiple instances of anti-Semitic expression were documented throughout the protests. Still, religion was not a particularly contentious issue during the pandemic. This is, as we argue, largely the result of the commitment of religious communities to self-restriction and their cooperation with state authorities, as the legal framework restricted religion much less than other spheres.