The Connecticut labor news., 1922-10-13
EFFORT TO DESTROY
 CATHOLIC WELFARE
 COUNCIL DEFEATED
Hierarchy Sustains Organization Which Has Been Attacked By
 Large Employers.

The campaign of large employers to divert the churches from their pro- grams for the betterment of social and industrial conditions ended in complete and final collapse when the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church in America voted full auth orization to the National Welfare Council to continue and intensity the activities which have resulted in the greatest good during the past year"
 This is accepted. as complete vim dication of the National Welfare Council, which, along with the. social action department of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ. of America, representing 32 Protestant denominations, and the Church sponsored by the Protestant Episco- pal church, has been under fire for more than two years.
 The Federal Council met threats of a boycott by Big Business by pub fishing the Interchurch report on the United States Steel Corporation, the most damaging indictment yet made of the Steel Trust. The withdrawal of financial support by large interests following this exposure proved only temporarily embarrassing.
 More recently the House of Bishops of the Episcopal church voted full ap- proval of the program of the Church League for Industrial Democracy.
 Welfare Council Is Safe.
 Following these definite stands comes the announcement of the Catholic hierarchy clearing up all un-' certainty as to the scope of the Well fare Council, made by Archbishop Hanna, of San Francisco, and Arch bishop Curley, of Baltimore.
 Members, of the hierarchy; com posed of Cardinal O'Connell, of oBs- ion, nearly a dozen archbishops, and more than 50 bishops, previously had the activiteis of each department of the council during the year These reports, especially along social serv- ice and educational lines, were said to have shown remarkable accom- plishments.
 The two archbishops in their an nouncement said the hierarchy re- garded the organization of the well fare council as tis- own representa- tive and as the exponent of it's pol. iceis in carrying out plans for the wei fare of the Catholic people in Amer ica.
 This statement sets at rest doubts as to whether, in view of reports from Rome, the welfare council would increase or diminish the scope of it's activities Not only has all it's work been approved, but, according to the archbishops, 1t IS to embark upon larger activities. .
 Fight Was Carried to Rome.
 The fight waged against the well fare council was most bitter and was carried to Pope Plus XI, who, short ly after his elevation to the potihcate, was induced to issue a decree sus- pending the organization. Itwas rep ersented to the pope, it is said, that the council was organized for war purposes and that it's days of useHd ness had ended .
 Friends of the council cab1ed the pope to withdraw his order and with hold action until the matter could be clearly laid before him. Bishop Schrembs, of Cleveland, headed a, group that went to Rome to put be- foressthet Vatican the importance of the work the council was rendering the cause Of humanity.
 Subsequently the Sacred Consis- torial Congregation of Cardinals re- considered the suspension and in ef feet, left the determination of the councils fate to the bishops of the United States.
 The welfare council has devoted much of it's attention to industrial problems, interpreting, in the light of principles enunciated by various popes and the American hierarchy, the church's attitude toward industrial conflicts and their causes. By clarify- ing the issues, it's statements have been helpful to their proper under standing.