Joseph II and the Jews: the Origins of the Toleration Patent of 1782
Paul Bernard
That Austria's monolithic refusal to tolerate religious minorities within its borders in an age of increasingly general permissiveness would not for long outlive Empress Maria Theresa must have been apparent all but the most obtuse contemporary observers. Throughout period his coregency (1765–1780), Joseph II had made it plain on more than one occasion that while, unlike Frederick Great, he did believe subjects might attain their salvation whatever way seemed best them, was, nevertheless, aware many them persist assuring damnation spite efforts Church and crown save them. And was unwilling let obduracy a minority cause state lose wealth, services, loyalty. Dominated by such radical ideas place state, Joseph, State Chancellor Prince Wenzel Kaunitz, Franz Heinke, once Kaunitz's man now independently charged with drawing up policy guidelines subsequent reorganization Church-state relations, were as early 1769 discussing advisability tolerating non-Catholic religions ways means implementing toleration.
Austrian History Yearbook