A bishop who has been accused of frequenting brothels and stealing thousands of dollars from his church has been ousted by Pope Leo.
Emanuel Shaleta has pleaded not guilty to 17 charges, including money laundering and embezzlement from his parish in El Cajon, near San Diego.
San Diego Deputy District Attorney Joel Madero said the alleged crimes took place in 2024 and were reported by a church employee who noticed the missing funds.
Hana Shaleta was arrested on March 5 at San Diego International Airport while attempting to leave the US, according to a sheriff's office statement.
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The bishop's lawyer said at Monday's hearing Shaleta was taking a planned trip to Germany.
Chaldean Catholics recognise the authority of the pope but worship according to an Eastern Christian liturgical rite.
There are about 71,000 Chaldean Catholics in San Diego, according to Vatican statistics.
Mr Shaleta spent four nights in jail before he was charged, when he was released on bail after paying $125,000 (£93,163).
Bishop Emanuel Shaleta has denied all charges
|ST. PETER’S CHALDEAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE
The office of Pope Leo said it had also received the resignation of the church’s Cardinal Louis Sako.
The cardinal has not been accused of any offences.
An investigation was first launched by the Holy See last year over the allegations of wrongdoing.
JD Flynn, editor-in-chief of The Pillar, which covers Catholic issues, said pressure on Pope Leo had been mounting to oust the bishop and the levelling of charges was seen as the last straw.
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Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation
|GETTY
Mr Flynn told The Telegraph: "My observation of Pope Leo is that he is, and will be, a by-the-book administrator.
"I see this as a sign Leo intends to govern with a strong hand when he needs to, and especially when this level of dysfunction is manifested or alleged."
Sharon Appelbaum, Mr Shaleta’s lawyer, told the court her client intended to fight the charges and that he had never "abused any penny of the church money".
Mr Shaleta said via his lawyer: "I have done my best to preserve and manage the donations of the church properly."
Pope Leo became the first American Pope, however shied away from regular media appearances | REUTERSA month after he first announced as Pontiff, Pope Leo said: "It is urgent to root in the whole church a culture of prevention that does not tolerate any form of abuse, neither of power or authority, nor abuse of conscience, spiritual or sexual abuse."
A spokesman for Vatican said: “The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle of San Diego of the Chaldeans, United States of America, presented by Bishop Emanuel Hana Shaleta."
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