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…

12/5/68: “Cardinal Cody and the mass dance”

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…

. . . for Chicago aldermen, to match suburbs’ requirement. This is his first defense:

. . . while the standard in Chicago has been at least 2 percent of the number of voters who cast ballots in the last aldermanic election, in most suburbs the standard is 5 percent.

Harmon sees no reason for that discrepancy.

Another defense:

. . . more important, filing petitions is, in the view of Mr. Harmon and some others, an initial test of viability, not only for the candidate but for the candidate’s ability to govern, should he or she actually win. If you can’t successfully obtain 400 or 500 or 600 valid signatures, Mr. Harmon argues, what makes you think you can run and then perform your duties as alderman?

Huh? But incumbents have the money and organization that gives them an edge in passing this test. They caught the eye…