[Truth666]

As the still young XX Century saw weapons of mass destruction enterting the scene, the usage of the most terrifying of all at that time, was proihibited in 1907, by the War Convention of The Hague.
Notice how the article associates "conservative right" with the use of chemical weapons.

[starfish923]

But his beatification has caused controversy in Austria, where Charles I is remembered for authorising the use of mustard gas during World War I and where critics believe his elevation to be politically driven by the conservative right.
The Austrian press has ridiculed not only the emperor's political record but the miracle he allegedly produced to merit beatification. According to the Vatican, he cured a Brazilian nun of varicose veins after doctors had given up all hope for her.

The Austrian press (aka socialism-o-rama, secularism-a-gogo) is negative against the Catholic Church? I am SHOCKED, appalled and totally surprised!!!

< sarcasm >

[sierrahome]

I noticed the same thing right off. Also I noticed the:

"was the only political leader to support Pope Benedict XV's peace efforts"

That line is rather timely also.

[Henchman]

Read the article, read the comments. WHO HAS THE FACTS? Please post references. Thanks

[roadrunner96]

Surely, there are volumes of books to read on this Emperor Charles I, http://members.fortunecity.se/mikaelxii/ww1/Austria/charles.html ; let alone the history of WW I, to properly understand the subject being discussed.

The comment by Truth666 seems to involve this excerpt from the story:

"But his beatification has caused controversy in Austria, where Charles I is remembered for authorising the use of mustard gas during World War I and where critics believe his elevation to be politically driven by the conservative right."

Maybe the paragraph should be broken into two sentences.

I would wager, his elevation is driven more by the church, rather than the conservative right.

I forget all of my Saints now, I believe there may have been a Priest from Hungary that helped out many oppressed in World War II.

This is a very interesting article because everyone knows a lot about the history of WW II, but not of "the war to end all wars" except for the slight spillover in relations to recent Balkans conflicts.

[Polybius]

The move brings the Habsburg emperor, who is remembered in Austria for authorising the use of mustard gas during World War I,...

Mustard gas was introduced by Germany at Ypres on the Westrern Front.

History paints a different picture of Emperor Karl I :

"...by the death of Franz Josef in late 1916; he became Austrian Emperor (Kaiser) on 21 November, and King of Hungary on 30 December. Acutely aware that Austria-Hungary's entry into the First World War (having essentially brought it about) was likely to prove the undoing of the empire, Karl quickly sought a means of negotiating a separate peace with the allies. ....................Regarded as weak by both political extremes, left and right, Karl nonetheless drew support from political moderates. Karl responded with the appointed of a succession of liberal, reformist prime ministers, pretty much reflecting his own views. Similarly determined to reform the army, Karl banned flogging, ended duels, called a halt to strategic bombing and limited the widespread use of poison gas; which served merely to infuriate his high command.

[Just mythoughts]

I am still trying to find who gave a man authority to pronounce anybody a "saint".

[tkathy]

Good grief!

[speedy]

I would not necessarily accept the spin of AFP on Charles I, or any other topic, for that matter. Of course AFP would be out to slam anyone they saw as being on the right.

[roadrunner96]

I wonder where "Chemical Charles I", AKA comes from in this story and placed in the caption? A reference would be welcomed.

I've started looking at other coverage of this same story.

Seems AFP could have mentioned the name of the German Mystic, a woman in fact, named Anna Emerick. If they mention Mel Gibson's movie, couldn't they at least mention her name.

http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=59147 Is the Catholic Press, I believe.

[MonroeDNA]

Vericose vein bites can be nasty.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[Truth666]

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/10/24/uk.devilworship/index.html A devil-worshipping sailor in the Royal Navy has become the first registered Satanist in the British Armed Forces. That allows him to perform satanic rituals aboard and permits him to have a non-Christian Church of Satan funeral should he be killed in action.

[narses]

Ping.

[Truth666]

Ultimate trilogy of satanic cerimonies, extending over a time period of exactly one month.
This was the first cerimony, at the very same city where the second took place today ...

[Truth666]

John Paul II grimaces as he tries to deliver his Urbi et Orbi blessing to the pilgrims gathered in St-Peter's square at the Vatican , during the Easter mass. Though he struggled with all his might, a frail Pope John Paul II failed to voice a traditional Easter Sunday blessing for the first time in his 26-year pontificate - the same thing happened when he was reading the laudatio for Charles I ...