Bishop Charged with Embezzlement, Resigns

0:00It's March 11th, let's get into the latest global headlines. Bishop Emanuel Shaleta, the leader of a Caldean Catholic parish in California, has resigned after facing charges of embezzling more than $200, $70,000 in money laundering. Pope Leo XIV announced the resignation on Tuesday following Shaleta's arrest last week at San Diego International Airport as he tried to. Born to flight out of the country, the 69-year-old bishop pleaded not guilty to 16 felony counts tied to discrepancies in his church's financial records. Prosecutors say the issue stemmed from rental payments for the church's social hall, which exceeded $30,000 a month from a tenon ad. St. Peter Caldean, Catholic Cathedral in Elcahone. Shaleta served his bishop there since 2017, after earlier roles in the United States and Canada. He has a long history in the priesthood, ordained back in 1984, and holding a doctorate in biblical theology. Church members and leaders have mixed reactions to the news.

1:01Priest in the E-parky issued a statement standing by Shaleta and calling for prayers during this tough time. The bishop himself denied any wrongdoing during a recent mass, insisting he never misused church funds. Meanwhile, the Caldean Catholic Church emphasized that the Vatican is reviewing everything carefully to uncover the truth. The Vatican accepted Shaleta's resignation under canon law back in February, but held off announcing it until now, to not interfere with the investigation. They appointed Bishop Saad Hanna Serap as temporary administrator. This comes amid other changes, like the recent retirement of the Caldean Church's head, Cardinal Lewis Rafael Soko. Shaleta faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on all charges. His preliminary hearing is set for April 27th. The case highlights challenges for the Caldean community, a branch of Catholics with roots in Iraq, and about half a million members in the U.S., mostly in states like California and Michigan. Appreciation to our sponsor for backing this episode.

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