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Message:: [QUOTE="McAdder, post: 464251, member: 7942"]That's where you are coming from. But this particular Brotherhood was conservative but not extreme. It was founded in 1648 and has no special connection to Switzerland or any wars. The only counter reformatory actions listed on your wikipedia entry is their care for the sick and giving them the last rites and the building of calvarys. At that time of the Sonderbund war, there was not much democracy around except for Switzerland, in most countries revolutionary forces fought to break up absolute monarchies, but all they could achieve was participation on a low level. In Switzerland the Catholics (not the Jesuits alone and definitely not this Brotherhood) fought for a Catholic State but not against democracy or for the pope or a state ruled by him. As I understand it, they fought for their independence, whereas the reformed wanted to form a closer knit state. The Jesuits themselves were a conservative congregation and missionaries in the colonies where they often worked against slavery and exploitation of natives. This and their loyalty to the pope instead of the rulers of the countries made them unpopular and lead to many conspiracy theories and their persecution. (I am not saying all criticism is unfounded)[/QUOTE]