Austria is a secular State, which accommodates religious needs both of individuals and institutions. Religious rules are applied within the constitutionally guaranteed autonomy of religious communities. Civilly, they produce legal effects on the basis of reference by State law, including private international law. The same applies to religious adjudication. Beyond explicit reference religious communities may create arbitration tribunals according to the Code of Civil Procedure, as in private international law, the application of religious rules is limited by the public policy clause.