GIUSEPPINO SIMO. — The ecclesiastical policy of G. II is summed up in the implementation of that jurisdictionalist system which took its name from him, namely Josephinism, and which attributes to the State extensive powers of control and oversight over the local organs of the Church. By virtue of this principle, among other things, G. II suppressed all religious orders that were not dedicated to the care of the sick and to education. In this policy he encountered opposition from Pius VI, though it remained without effect. With the “Edict of Tolerance” of 1781, he granted freedom of worship to Protestants and Greek Orthodox (cf. also, for other aspects of “Josephinism,” the entries: AUSTRIA, II: History of Christianity; GIURISDIZIONALISMO; REGALISMO; SEPARATISMO).
GIUSEPPINO SIMO
BIBL.: A. Fournier, Joseph II., Prague 1885; A. Wolf-H. von Zwiedeneck-Südenhorst, L'Austria ai tempi di Maria Teresa, G. II e Leopoldo II, trad. it., Milan 1904; P. V. Mitrofanoff, Joseph II., Vienna 1910; P. Del Giudice, Storia del diritto italiano, Milan 1923, pp. 30 ff.; F. M. Mayer-R. F. Kaindl-H. Pirchegger, Geschichte u. Kulturleben Deutschösterreichs, II, Vienna 1931, pp. 281-360; S. K. Padover, The revolutionary emperor Joseph II, London 1934; H. von Srbik, Deutsche Einheit, I, Munich 1935, pp. 115-224, 136-139; E. Benedikt, Kaiser Joseph II., Vienna 1936, 2nd ed., 1914; G. Soranzo, “Peregrinus apostolicus,” Milan 1936, passim; M. C. Goodwin, The papal conflict with Josephinism, New York 1938; E. Winter, Der Josef-nismus und seine Geschichte, Brünn-Munich 1943. Cf. also R. Kline, L'attenzione della legislazione ecclesiastica di G. II nell'archidiececi di Gorizia, Gorizia 1942. For further bibliography on G. II and his environment cf. A. Novotny, Staatskanzler Kaunitz als geistige Persönlichkeit, Vienna 1947, pp. 193 ff.; H. Hantsch, Die Geschichte Österreichs, II, Vienna 1950, pp. 220-56 (with bibliography). — For ecclesiastical policy, cf. also G. Grisar, De historia Ecclesiae catholicae Austriacae saec. XIX et de vita Principis Episcopi Tridentini, ven. servi Dei Ioann. Nepomuceni de Tschiderer, quaestiones selectae, Rome 1936 (a study of great importance).