Bishop Caught Fleeing the Country After Stealing $270K From His Own Church

Chaldean Catholic Bishop Arrested at Airport, Charged With Stealing $270,000 From His Own Church

Pope Leo XIV has formally accepted the resignation of Bishop Emanuel Shaleta, the former head of the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle in San Diego, California. Shaleta now faces 17 felony charges, including eight counts of embezzlement, eight counts of money laundering, and one count of aggravated white collar crime enhancement.

The 69 year old bishop was arrested on March 5, 2026, at San Diego International Airport as he attempted to leave the United States. Law enforcement detained him before he could board his flight. He was transported and booked at the San Diego Central Jail, where he is being held on $125,000 bail.

The investigation began in August 2025, when a representative from St. Peter Chaldean Church in El Cajon reported alleged fund embezzlement to police. The San Diego County Sheriff's Fraud Unit conducted the investigation that led to the charges.

According to prosecutors, the allegations center on monthly rental payments of more than $30,000 from a tenant of the church's social hall that were allegedly missing. Investigators say Shaleta provided completely unreasonable explanations of where the money was going and could not provide proof of where the funds went. In total, at least $270,000 is alleged to have been embezzled from the St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral in El Cajon.

Shaleta pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and maintains his innocence. He stated:

I never abused any penny of the church money. I have done my best to preserve and manage the donations of the church properly.

Born in the village of Fishkhabour in northern Iraq in 1956, Shaleta was ordained by Pope John Paul II in 1984. He earned a doctorate in biblical theology from Urbaniana University in Rome and served as bishop of the Toronto based Eparchy of Mar Addai before his 2017 appointment to San Diego.

Pope Leo XIV Removes San Diego Bishop After Embezzlement and Money Laundering Charges

Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Vatican's ambassador to the United States, had privately accepted the resignation last month. The Vatican formally announced the decision on March 10, 2026. Most Rev. Saad Sirop Hanna has been appointed as apostolic administrator for the eparchy going forward.

The Chaldean Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic church in full communion with Rome. The Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle serves one of the largest Chaldean communities in the United States, concentrated in the San Diego area.

The Crusader's Opinion

A shepherd is supposed to protect the flock, not fleece them. If these charges are true, Bishop Shaleta did not just steal money. He stole from the tithes of faithful Christians, many of them Iraqi refugees who fled persecution only to be betrayed by the very man entrusted with their spiritual care. The fact that he was caught trying to flee the country speaks volumes. The Church must hold its own leaders to the highest standard. When a bishop embezzles from his own cathedral and then runs for the airport, that is not a failure of policy. That is a failure of character. We pray for justice and for the faithful of El Cajon who deserved so much better.

Take Action

• Pray for the parishioners of St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral in El Cajon who have been directly affected by this betrayal of trust.
• Contact the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle to express support for the congregation: www.stpeterdiocese.org
• Support persecuted Chaldean Christians in Iraq and the Middle East through www.TheShepherdsShield.org
• Donate to the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) which supports Chaldean Christian communities: cnewa.org
• Have a conversation with your church community about financial transparency and accountability in church leadership. Ask your pastor what safeguards are in place for donated funds.