Manny Ita –
Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop Emanuel Shaleta, a San Diego clergyman accused of embezzling church funds, according to a bulletin issued by the Vatican.
The Vatican confirmed that Shaleta stepped down from his position at Saint Peter’s Chaldean Cathedral in East County. The resignation was accepted in February but was not publicly announced until Tuesday.
The Vatican also named Bishop Saad Hanna Sirop as interim replacement.
Shaleta pleaded not guilty on Monday to more than a dozen felony charges related to $272,000 in missing church funds. Prosecutors allege that the bishop pocketed $30,000 in monthly cash payments from a tenant using the church’s social hall over several months.
Prosecutor Joel Madero told the court that Shaleta attempted to conceal the alleged embezzlement by transferring money from a church account designated to assist the needy into the church’s operational bank account.
According to Madero, Shaleta allegedly “provided completely unreasonable tales of where that money was going,” after a financial adviser discovered discrepancies in the accounts.
The prosecutor further alleged that the bishop could not provide proof of who received the money or when it was distributed.
Authorities arrested Shaleta last week at the San Diego International Airport as he attempted to board a flight to Germany.
He faces eight counts of embezzlement, eight counts of money laundering and an aggravated white-collar crime enhancement. Court records were not immediately available, and NBC News reported it was unable to locate contact information for an attorney representing him.
Shaleta was released on $125,000 bail and is scheduled to return to court next month.
Attempts to reach the bishop for comment were unsuccessful. He did not answer calls at a publicly listed phone number and did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.
The Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle, the diocese overseeing the cathedral, also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
During his court appearance on Monday, Shaleta maintained his innocence before a courtroom filled with supporters.
One parishioner, Farouk Gewarges, said he believed investigators had made an error in bringing the charges.
“They should come and talk to me,” Gewarges said, adding that the allegations were “not correct.”
