12/5/68: "Cardinal Cody and the mass dance" Chicago Daily News. Coverage of coverage

Coverage by James H. Bowman, religion writer

Chicago Conference of Laymen (CCL) at Knickerbocker Hotel on the previous Sunday, Dec. 1. Black man danced stripped to waist carrying chalice to altar. "Thorough investigation" coming says Cardinal C., who strongly disapproved.

Mass alone (black dancer or not), outside church or other approved place requires permission (per standard practice). Yeshiva and the Utopians performed African, "soul," and psychedelic rhythms.

Mass began with the offertory, the day's previous talks and discussions taken as "The liturgy of the word," a largely Vatican 2 invention, at least as a term. Communion was in the form of small slices of French bread, distributed in some 25 baskets.

"Theatrical," Cardinal Cody called it. Not in keeping with the devotional spirit of the the liturgy. Experimental, said the organizers.

A day or so later, "Cody criticism of dance attacked: Layman 'shocked'"

Shock and amazement professed at Cody's comments. By CCL president Andrew J. Leahy. Cody not available for comment, nor his press secretary, Rev. James "Roche" (Roache: Misspelling called to attention of reporter the next day by Roache, who also objected to his name being in the story. Reporter was tempted to ask if he was unhappy with his assignment.)

Cody criticism was insult to blacks in attendance, said Leahy, who regretted Cody's not saying the dance was by a Negro. In this omission was veiling "of the basically anti-Negro attitude that prevails in the church."

Such innovations as the Knickerbocker mass were taking place "all over the country," Leahy said, adding that it was "somewhat surprising" that the condemnation by Cody came only after black people tried to worship God in a way attuned to their culture.

Rev. John Lynch, 27, associate pastor at Our Lady Gate of Heaven, 2338 E. 99th Street, said the mass, was called in by Cody but would not discuss whether he'd been disciplined.

(Liturgical experimentation here. Leahy was right about its happening all over. Cody was right about canon law. Leahy and his group were stretching the envelope here. L's accusation of racism was also happening all over.)

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Cody helped clear priest, 14 March 1969 story

Rev. Leo Mahon, 42, a Chicago priest, was cleared of heresy charges in February of 1968 in Panama, where he had founded an experimental parish as part of a Latin American outreach sponsored by the Chicago archdiocese, according to Overview, newsletter of the Chicago-based Thomas More Association. (Catholic press veteran Dan Herr was publisher.)

It was a “misunderstanding,” said Rev. John Ring, associate chairman of the archdiocesan Latin American Committee. “Practically nothing.”

A “grossly unfair” story, said the Chicago chancery, denying everything.

A “quite serious” matter, another archdiocesan source told the Daily News.

The papal nuncio to Panama had wanted Mahon out of the country, but the local archbishop and Cardinal Cody had taken Mahon’s side, the latter supplying support that was decisive, according to Overview.

A panel of bishops in a “heresy trial” found Mahon’s operation only “pedagogically” lacking, said Ring. Mahon made changes to suit the bishops.

His parish had held experimental worship services which featured Panamanian folk rhythms, bongo drums, and guitars.