"[Democratic presidential nominee] John Kerry is a Roman Catholic, but he's promised that won't have an effect on his decision-making," Brother Nathan pointed out. "That's exactly backward from what the church teaches, and how Karl ruled. His Catholicism colored all his decisions. He wasn't ashamed of that."
Emperor Karl as a Field Marshal, 1917-Painting, Wilhelm Krausz--Archduke Rudolph
What an interesting story ... and I'm happy for those who have promoted his cause. Someday I hope to attend the beatification or canonization of Father McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus.
But the poor man (Kaiser Karl, I mean) definitely had the Hapsburg chin :-).
Karl was an example for leaders everywhere. Unfortunately our HS history books teach......er........indoctrinate that
"kings (especially Catholic ones) are/were intrinsically evil......democracy (translated: organized confusion)= good.
And of course, it was good to destroy the Autro-Hungarian empire, and replace it with "democracy"!
My understanding of the situation, is that in this empire with its various ethnic groups, there was unity, but at the same time there was repect of local customs and semi-autonomy given in regional govt - which all helped t keep the peace.