This paper explores the changing role(s) of Religion within the Austrian People's Party. The Austrian People's Party, historically rooted in Catholic conservatism, has long integrated Christian values into its political identity. However, in recent decades, with shifting societal trends, secularization, and changing political landscapes in Austria and Europe, the role of religion in the party's policies and rhetoric has been repeatedly reconfigured. While political science has discussed the "hijacking of religion" by populist and far-right actors, Christian-democrats are traditionally ascribed issue ownership regarding religion. Yet, members of this party family across Europe have been struggling with their relation to religion and these struggles had various outcomes. The Austrian People's Party is a prime example to discuss these repositioning and the question whether right-wing conservatives still need religion. The party's relation to religion - in particular the positioning towards Christianity, Judaism and Islam - has changed multiple times over the past decades, motivated by either Christian-social roots and Austrian consociationalism, imitation of right-wing populist strategies or, most recently, the replacement of religious elements by functional equivalents. Through an analysis of the ÖVP's political evolution with regard to religion, the paper traces the historical integration of Christianity from the party's founding in the early 20th century to the present day. It examines the ideological shifts that have led to the party's increased emphasis on cultural conservatism over explicit Christian doctrine, particularly since the 1990s. The paper further investigates the role of religious expressions, language, and discourse within the ÖVP's political campaigns and thereby aims to provide insights into the role of Christian-democratic parties in the political debates about religion in post-secular times.