“Your activities and initiatives have contributed to enriching the spiritual and social fabric of Austria.” Unification Church in Austria marks 10 years of official recognition of its contribution to society
Press Release
Unification Church in Austria: 10 Years as a State-Registered Religious Community
Ceremonial Anniversary Celebration with Religious Representatives and Fellow Travelers in Vienna
Press release issued by the Unification Church of Austria on July 7th, 2025, concerning an event celebrating the 10th anniversary of becoming a state-registered religious community. See original press release in German.
Vienna (OTS) –
On July 4, 2025, the Unification Church (German: Vereinigungskirche) in Austria celebrated the tenth anniversary of its official recognition as a registered religious community with a festive event at the event center Seidengasse 28/4 in Vienna.
“Today we celebrate ten years of state recognition of the Unification Church in Austria. A milestone that fills us with deep gratitude, but also with the obligation to reflect and to look ahead with clarity,” said Peter Zöhrer (Zoehrer), President of the Unification Church (Vereinigungskirche) in Austria, in his welcoming address.
The Unification Church was officially recognized as a religious community by the Office for Religious Affairs (German: Kultusamt) in the Federal Chancellery (German: Bundeskanzleramt) in June 2015.
In his keynote speech, Prof. Dr. Martin Fischer from the Office for Religious Affairs (German: Kultusamt) emphasized: “In the past ten years, you have shown that you are a community committed to intercultural and interreligious cooperation and ethical awareness. Your activities and initiatives have contributed to enriching the spiritual and social fabric of Austria.”
Elisabeth Cook, Vice President of the Unification Church (Vereinigungskirche), explained in her presentation the foundations and activities of the Family Federation (German: Familienföderation), which shares the ideals and goals of the Unification Church. She concluded with a quote from Father Moon: “Only when we realize the ideal of the family, through which we can unite with God, will the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth come into being.”
Numerous guests from various religious communities, academia, and civil society paid tribute to the contributions of the Unification Church to social dialogue, family values, and peaceful coexistence.
Featured image above: From the celebration in Vienna on July 4th, 2025, of the 10th anniversary of the Unification Church becoming a state-registered religious community. Photo: Tony Cook