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"Rabbi!" Saul Alinsky and Joe Meegan were also there last week for the bishop's 25th anniversary. The Jewish sociologist and the Irish playground director were the bishop's right & left hands in the late !30's when he set out to fight Communism among the tough, discontented unemployed of Chicago's stockyards. The Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council brought democracy and self-respect into an explosive situation. The packers, who at first did not like the unionization that went with it, learned to be grateful for the bishop's work.
Bishop Sheil made himself just as unpopular with fringers on the right as with those on the left. At one forum on Christian-Jewish relations he was viciously heckled by a delegation of Christian Fronters, and a virago pushed her way towards him as he was leaving. "I'm a Catholic!" she screamed. "You're not a Catholic—you're a nigger-lover and a Jew-lover. You call yourself a bishop. You're not a bishop, you're a rabbi." And she spat in his face.
Bishop Sheil did not move a muscle. "I thank you. madam, for the compliment of your action and your words." he said calmly. "Rabbi? That is what they called our Lord."
Corned Beef & Cabbage. Bishop Sheil's Silver Jubilee began last week with Mass. Into the nave of Holy Name Cathedral crowded a congregation of 1,800, and in the sanctuary were 29 bishops. Chicago's archbishop, Samuel Cardinal Stritch, read a message from the Pope: "Ever since you received the fullness of the priesthood you have performed a zealous and fruitful ministry . . . Wishing in some outstanding way to render testimony of our affection toward you, we have decided to name you Assistant at our Pontifical Throne.''*
Eight hours later, more than 2,300 people came to dinner. Their tables overflowed the Palmer House grand ballroom into the foyer, into the halls, almost into the elevators. There was a cake 15 ft. high which Bishop Sheil had to cut standing above it on the balcony. There was a main course of the bishop's beloved corned beef & cabbage, and over & over the band played his favorite tune, MacNamara's Band.
At the head table sat Theologian Jacques Maritain and Labor Leaders John L. Lewis and James B. Carey, Illinois' Governor William G. Stratton and Capitalist Marshall Field. Chicago's Episcopal Bishop Wallace Conkling gave the benediction and Rabbi Louis Binstock of Temple Sholom asked God's blessing on Bishop Sheil in Hebrew. A check for $131,582 was presented to the bishop for his various funds, and 26 separate awards, each with appropriate words of praise, kept coming until midnight.
At last the bishop himself rose to speak from a full heart. "I have offered up to God all of these awards given to me," he said.
* Bishops bearing this honorary title take precedence in papal processions over other bishops and archbishops. Present number of assistants: 82 bishops, 49 archbishops.