1. Mathurin suggested it - oft forgotten fact, Mathurin suggested the Crusade before Phantaria even attacked Terran (or right around that time). Hireshmont would not have called for a Crusade except that Mathurin suggested it. Otherwise, Hireshmont just would have tried to call in alliances.
This might be a case of what the elders see vs the full members. I'm quite certain that Mathurin didn't come out as pro-crusade to full members until well after others were already discussing the matter, including hireshmont.
