"Episcopal Scabbery" Charge Against Bishop Proved False

LAST WEEK THE " CATHOLIC HERALD " REPORTED THAT A GROUP OF CHICAGO CATHOLICS, CALLING THEMSELVES " SERFS OF ST. GREGORY," HAD PUBLICLY DENOUNCED MGR. SHIEL, AUXILIARY BISHOP OF CHICAGO, FOR " SCABBING " i.e., BLACKLEGGING.
The American Newspaper Guild had called a strike against Hearst newspapers in an effort to get better working conditions. There was much Catholic support for the strike, and the official newspaper or the Chicago Archdiocese, the Chicago New World, has run a campaign in favour of the strike.
The " Serfs " Act
The " Serfs " were roused to action by the appearance of a series of articles in the Chicago Evening American, one of the Hearst newspapers concerned in the strike, from the pen of Mgr. Shiel.
They denounced the Bishop for being a blackleg.
Information has now come to light which show that the accusation was unjust.
It appears that the articles by Mgr. Shiel were commissioned prior to the outbreak of the strike and that he had no control over
their publication.
Confirmed
This is confirmed by the following telegram received by Mgr. Shiel from Mr Heywood Broun, President of the American Newspaper Guild: "We have been informed you are subjected to campaign annoying protests including entirely unauthorised approach by one of our members resulting from announced publication your articles in Chicago Hearst paper.
" On behalf American Newspaper Guild whose members include numerous communicants Catholic Church I wish to apologise for attacks. Assure you we fully understand articles were contracted prior to strike and that you have no present control over their publication.
" Deeply appreciate your known friendship for the strike, and we shall publicise this to our membership and the labor movement to clear up misunderstanding about the articles."
" HEYWOOD Bitousr, President."
To Cardinal Mundelein
Mr Broun also sent the following telegram to Cardinal Mundelein, Archbishop of Chicago, who was, at the time, on board the Italian liner Rex, on his way to Rome to attend the Conclave:
"Understand Bishop Shiel has been subjected campaign attacks for appearance articles Hearst newspaper. Fully understand articles were contracted prior to strike and Bishop has no present control over publication.
" On behalf American Newspaper Guild whose members include numerous Catholic communicants wish to apologise for attacks.
" May I express hope Your Eminence will advise New World restate diocesan clergy's friendship for strike to aid us
clarify Bishop's position to labor movement."
Planned by the Management The Chicago Newspaper Guild has issued a statement to the Press stating that : " The Guild has been informed that present articles in The American were contracted for long before the Guild strike against the Chicago Hearst papers.
" Appearance at this time of the series was planned by the management of the newspapers and was a circumstance over which the Bishop had no control. The Guild feel that their present appearance is as much an embarrassment to Bishop Shiel, as it is to the Guild."
Finally, as regards the pamphlet issued by the Serfs of St. Gregory, from which extracts appeared in last week's CATHOLIC HERALD, Mgr. George J. Casey, Chancellor of the • Archdiocese of Chicago, writes:
"During the past several days a letter signed by twelve individuals who sign themselveis the Serfs of St. Gregory has been circularised among the clergy of the Archdiocese.
" Scurrilous and Defamatory "
" The letter, written in scurrilous and defamatory language, attempts to cast obloquy on the person of our senior Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General of the Archdiocese.
" Since the charges made against his Excellency are grossly unfair and exaggerated, and since the letter contains much misinformation and distortion of facts, I am taking the liberty of forwarding you the accompanying photostatic copies of telegrams. . . by way of refuting the charges made in the letter signed by the Serfs of St. Gregory, and in order to dispel any misgivings or misimpressions that may have been prompted by the circulation of the ' Open Letter to Bishop Shiel ' among ourselves or our flock."