Categories: CrimesNews

Vatican removes San Diego bishop over $250,000 church fraud

Bishop Emanuel Shaleta of the Chaldean Catholic Diocese of St. Peter the Apostle in San Diego was "contacted and detained" March 5 at that city's international airport while "attempting to leave the country," according to a statement issued that same day by the San Diego County Sheriff's Office. He is pictured in an undated photo. (OSV News photo/Chaldean Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle of San Diego)

Pope Leo has accepted the resignation of a Catholic bishop in San Diego who was arrested by local authorities over allegations of stealing $250,000 from his congregation, the Vatican announced on Tuesday.

The bishop, Emanuel Hana Shaleta, had led the Chaldean Catholic community in the city since 2017. He pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of embezzlement and money laundering during a court hearing on Monday, according to local media reports.

San Diego Deputy District Attorney Joel Madero said the alleged crimes occurred in 2024 and were uncovered after a church employee noticed missing funds, local broadcaster KGTV reported.

Authorities arrested Hana Shaleta on March 5 at San Diego International Airport while he was attempting to leave the United States, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office.

His lawyer told the court that the bishop had been planning to travel to Germany.

Chaldean Catholics recognise the authority of the pope but follow an Eastern Christian liturgical tradition. Vatican statistics estimate that about 71,000 Chaldean Catholics live in the San Diego area.