Pastor stops controversial rave in Wiener Church - what now?

Pastor stops controversial rave in Wiener Church - what now?

Canisiuskirche, Wien, Österreich - in Vienna-Alsergrund caused a planned "Church Rave" for excitement. The event in the Canisiuskirche, which was scheduled for the beginning of May, should offer a dance party with electronic music, light shows and more. Tickets have recently been available and the organizers announced that there will be "two floors. Two worlds. Techno. Hard dance". Despite the promising advertising and safe income, doubts about the implementation of the event have now arisen.

The parish provisor John Njenga NGanga made it clear: Although the event had been organized with the arrangement of the Church, the approval criteria were not fully complied with. The background is that he was originally asked for permission for an event with "electronic music". The concrete transformation of the idea towards a "rave" was not known, which came unexpectedly. The concerns are great in the parish, since similar controversial "candlelight concerts" took place in August 2023. Those responsible had therefore assumed that it was a similar type of event.

Problems with approval

The decision to cancel the clubbing in the church space depends on the requirements for official permits. These are necessary to ensure that an event is public or affects the public in a different way. According to the legal situation, such permits must be obtained early in order to take into account any requirements and regulations. In the case of the Church Raves, the parish provisor stated that no application for approval has been received to date. The requirements also require a longer lead time, which is no longer available, since the event for the late evening hours from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m.

In addition, there are possible concerns about possible disorders for residents. During the application process, the organizers had emphasized that they respect the church as a holy place and that the event should take place in accordance with this idea. However, while the ticket sales continue to stand and the first cards are already sold out, many users in the comment columns of the Instagram contributions express their concerns about the adequacy of such a ceremony in a church.

different requirements depending on the event

Events such as the planned rave usually require several permits, especially if they use public spaces or cause noise. These permits vary depending on the region and type of the event. Additional requirements could result from the type of music or the planned activities, which also applies to Church Rave. Events that do not take place in the building law -approved meeting places often even require special permits. The planned event therefore requires an intensive review of the legal framework.

In the event of further ambiguities regarding the necessary permits, it is advisable to claim legal advice. The Canisius parish faces the challenge of protecting the spiritual framework of the Church and taking into account the legal requirements. The outcome of this matter remains to be seen, while the discussion about the appropriateness of such events continues to exist.