A bishop of a Chaldean Catholic church in El Cajon appears to be under investigation following allegations of embezzlement, according to media reports and the Sheriff’s Office — accusations the bishop denied from the pulpit over the weekend.
Last week, The Pillar, an investigative news outlet covering the Catholic Church, reported that the Vatican had ordered an investigation into Bishop Emanuel Shaleta of the Diocese of St. Peter the Apostle. The story alleges more than $427,000 in cash was “appropriated.”
Shaleta, 69, could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but he addressed the matter Sunday near the end of a Mass and adamantly denied the allegations.
“I have never in my priestly life or episcopal life abused any penny of the church money,” Shaleta said, according to a recording of the service, which was streamed on YouTube. “On the contrary, I have done my best to preserve and manage the donations of the church properly.”
Asked about news reports regarding the allegations, the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement: “The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Fraud Unit is aware of media reports of alleged financial mishandling identifying Chaldean Bishop Emanuel Shaleta. As the case is still under active investigation, no additional information can be shared at this time.”
A spokesperson for the District Attorney’s Office said Wednesday it is “aware” that the Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case but did not provide further comment.
In its Feb. 19 news story, The Pillar said it had reviewed documents and bank records, including documents from what it said was a Vatican-ordered investigation. The news report also cited sources inside the church but did not identify them.
A woman who answered the phone at the eparchy office Wednesday said she had “no answer for this” when asked to speak to someone who could comment on the news reports, and also to speak to Shaleta himself. Emails to the eparchy went unanswered.
The news story stated that the Vatican had delegated the investigation to the archbishop in charge of the Diocese of Los Angeles. Reached Thursday, a spokesperson for the diocese said questions should be directed to the Vatican.
In addressing the congregation Sunday, Shaleta said a donor had given him money to distribute to poor people, and that he had done so. He said a member of the church finance committee reported missing money to the Vatican — money the bishop indicated were the funds donated to help poor people.
“He then gathered paperwork from the church files without my consensus and sent them to Rome,” Shaleta said from the pulpit. “The Vatican did an investigation about me without even notifying me. I wrote a letter to the Vatican, saying, “If you doubt me and you don’t trust me, I will resign from my work.”
The bishop said he lives in a small room, works in a small office and has a small car. “I think there is a mean and vicious media campaign funded by very rich people against the Chaldean Church and its clergy,” he said, and he told parishioners to ask for a copy of the financial report.
The Chaldean Patriarchate in Baghdad, which oversees the El Cajon diocese, posted a statement on its website over the weekend. The site is in Arabic; the Union-Tribune used Google to translate it into English.
“Some members of the diocese have submitted complaints regarding the integrity of His Excellency Bishop Emmanuel Shaleta concerning the handling of certain diocesan funds, as well as allegations of personal relationships. Social media outlets published the news without verifying the accuracy of the information,” the statement reads.
“Allegations or complaints are not, in themselves, indicators of truth. There are also positive testimonies from clergy and committed lay faithful who serve the diocese. These matters require evidence, documentation, and time,” it reads. “The Holy See, with the knowledge of the Patriarchate, has initiated thorough investigations to reveal the truth and to take a just and impartial decision so that no one may be wronged.”
The Pillar news story also cited a report submitted to the Dicastery for Eastern Catholic Churches by San Diego-based private investigator, Wade Dudley, whose website identifies him as having been an FBI agent for at least 20 years. Reached Wednesday, Dudley referred to The Pillar story and declined comment.
The Pillar story alleges that Dudley spotted the bishop making late-night border crossings into Mexico, parking in a lot reserved for customers of a brothel, then boarding a shuttle exclusive to customers of the brothel.
Shaleta’s comments did not specifically address those allegations.