Bishop Shaleta Resigns Amid Embezzlement Charges in San Diego

Bishop Emanuel Shaleta of the Chaldean Catholic community in the San Diego area has resigned following charges of embezzling $270,000 from his parish.

Pope Leo XIV officially announced the resignation on Tuesday, though it had been accepted in February.

Legal Proceedings Underway

Shaleta, 69, pleaded not guilty on Monday to 16 felony charges, including money laundering. His arrest occurred last Thursday at San Diego International Airport as he was reportedly attempting to leave the country, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office.

Allegations of Missing Rental Payments

The allegations against Shaleta are linked to over $30,000 in monthly rental payments from a tenant of the St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral's social hall, which are reported as missing.

Prosecutor Joel Madero indicated discrepancies in church accounts, stating that Shaleta provided "completely unreasonable tales of where that money was going."

Bishop's Defense and Bail Conditions

During a Mass on February 22, Shaleta addressed the accusations, stating:

"I have never abused any penny of the church money. On the contrary, I have done my best to preserve and manage the donations of the church properly."

His attorney, Sharon Appelbaum, plans to dispute the allegations.

The judge set Shaleta's bail at $125,000 and confiscated his passport, citing him as a flight risk. Shaleta's attorney maintained that Thursday's flight had been planned in advance.

Potential Sentence and Interim Leadership

If convicted on all charges, Shaleta could face up to 15 years in prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 27. Bishop Saad Hanna Sirop has been named as a temporary administrator for the El Cajon parish.

Related Retirement of Cardinal Sako

In related news, Iraqi Cardinal Louis Sako also retired as patriarch of the global Chaldean Catholic Church, citing a desire to pursue "prayer, writing and simple service." The connection between his retirement and Shaleta’s case remains unclear.

About the Chaldean Catholic Church

The Chaldean Catholic Church represents over a million Aramaic-speaking Christians, primarily from Iraq, with a significant presence in the United States, particularly in the Detroit area and California.