Pope Leo has ousted a US bishop accused of embezzling $250,000 from his California diocese, accepting his resignation amid criminal charges of theft and money laundering.
The Vatican announced on Tuesday that Bishop Emanuel Hana Shaleta, head of the Chaldean Catholic eparchy in San Diego since 2017, had stepped down following his arrest last week.
Shaleta, 67, was detained on March 5 at San Diego International Airport while attempting to board a flight out of the country.a0fc56 He pleaded not guilty to 16 felony counts during a court appearance on March 9.
Prosecutors allege the offences occurred in 2024, with a church employee alerting authorities after discovering missing funds. San Diego Deputy District Attorney Joel Madero said the report came from “a church employee who noticed missing funds.”
Shaleta’s attorney countered that the bishop was en route to a scheduled trip to Germany, denying any intent to flee.
The Chaldean Catholic community, which follows an eastern rite while acknowledging papal authority, numbers around 71,000 in San Diego, per Vatican data.3ac40b The Vatican provided no further comment on the decision.
