What changes did Joseph II make to religious freedom in Vienna?

Emperor Joseph II implemented significant religious reforms in Vienna and across his domains, grounded in the principle that an individual's beliefs are a private matter and that no one should be compelled to worship against their conscience.1

His key measures included:

• Edict of Toleration (1781): This law granted Lutherans, Calvinists, and Orthodox Christians near-equality with Roman Catholics, removing many civil disabilities they previously faced.23
• Status of Jews: A subsequent 1782 edict improved the status of Jews, granting them the right to enter various trades and study at universities.23
• Monastic Reforms: Joseph dissolved approximately one-third of Austrian monasteries that were not engaged in "useful" community work, such as education, agriculture, or caring for the sick. The assets from these institutions were redirected to support parishes.314
• Church-State Relations: He secularized seminaries for clergy training, limited the authority of bishops, and restricted their communication with the Pope.1

While these reforms faced resistance, the Edict of Toleration and the monastic reforms remained in place long after his reign.34