Pope Leo Accepts Resignation as San Diego Bishop Faces $250,000 Theft Scandal

Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop Emanuel Hana Shaleta, the leader of the Chaldean Catholic community in San Diego, after the bishop was arrested by local authorities and accused of stealing roughly $250,000 from his congregation. The Vatican confirmed the decision in its daily bulletin on March 10, announcing that the pope had accepted the resignation submitted by the bishop. Shaleta had led the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle in San Diego since 2017. The Vatican's announcement came days after the bishop's arrest and court appearance in California, where the criminal case against him is now moving forward in the state judicial system.

The accusations against Shaleta are tied to an investigation into missing church funds that authorities say were taken from his congregation. Prosecutors allege that about $250,000 disappeared from church finances in 2024, prompting an inquiry after a church employee noticed irregularities in the accounts. The suspected financial misconduct was later reported to authorities, launching a criminal investigation that focused on the handling of funds connected to the parish. According to reports from local media cited by prosecutors, the missing money had been identified internally before the case was formally referred to law enforcement officials for further examination.

San Diego Deputy District Attorney Joel Madero said the alleged crimes occurred during 2024 and came to light after a staff member at the church raised concerns about missing funds. The report from the employee triggered a closer review of the church's financial records, which investigators say revealed the alleged embezzlement. Authorities later built a case accusing the bishop of misusing church money, leading prosecutors to file multiple criminal charges against him. The investigation quickly escalated as law enforcement examined financial transactions and documentation related to the church accounts involved in the case.

The situation intensified on March 5 when Shaleta was arrested at San Diego International Airport while attempting to leave the United States. According to a statement from the San Diego County Sheriff's Office, the bishop was detained at the airport during what authorities believed was an attempt to travel abroad. During a court hearing held on March 9, Shaleta pleaded not guilty to the accusations against him. Prosecutors charged him with 16 counts related to embezzlement and money laundering tied to the alleged disappearance of church funds.

Shaleta has denied the accusations and previously addressed the allegations publicly before members of his congregation. Speaking to his congregation during a Mass on Feb. 23, Shaleta denied the allegations, saying: «I have never in my priestly life or episcopal life 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 lawyer also told the court that the bishop was not attempting to flee the country when he was arrested, saying he was instead planning a previously scheduled trip to Germany.

The case has drawn attention within the Chaldean Catholic community in Southern California, one of the largest communities of its kind in the United States. Chaldean Catholics are part of the Eastern Catholic tradition and recognize the authority of the pope while worshipping according to an eastern Christian liturgical rite. Vatican statistics indicate that roughly 71,000 Chaldean Catholics live in the San Diego region. With Pope Leo accepting Shaleta's resignation, the leadership of the local church now enters a period of uncertainty while the legal case continues to unfold in California courts.

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