The head priest and dean of a cathedral in Downtown Pittsburgh is accused of stealing more than $1,000 worth of baseball cards.The Very Reverend Aidan Smith has resigned from Trinity Episcopal Cathedral after being arrested last month in Beaver County for allegedly stealing more than $1,000 worth of baseball cards. According to authorities, security video captured at a Walmart showed Smith taking cards for several days in a row then leaving without paying for them. The Episcopal Bishop of Pittsburgh, Right Reverend Ketlen Solak, said in a letter that Smith had been on administrative leave since late January when the church looked into separate allegations against Smith. Reverend Ketlen’s statement, in part: “This leave was prompted by an ongoing investigation into questions we received at the end of December and beginning of January suggesting that he may have failed to safeguard the property of the church. On Feb. 15, shortly after his leave began, proceedings under The Episcopal Church’s Title IV canons—which specify the church’s process for addressing clergy misconduct–were formally initiated against him. Given news reports about his arrest, I believe it is now pastorally appropriate to make you aware that for a number of weeks, we have been looking into whether Aidan improperly sold artifacts belonging to the cathedral through online platforms. You will likely read more about this in the media in the coming days.While the civic charges related to Aidan’s arrest for retail theft are entirely separate from allegations that he failed to safeguard church property, the two matters will proceed as one Title IV case. Aidan has resigned as dean, but he remains canonically resident as a member of the clergy in the Diocese of Pittsburgh and is subject to the Title IV process. Members of the clergy are presumed innocent in Title IV matters unless or until proven otherwise.”For the full statement, click here. Smith is facing charges of receiving stolen property and retail theft. His preliminary hearing is set for March 26.
PITTSBURGH —
The head priest and dean of a cathedral in Downtown Pittsburgh is accused of stealing more than $1,000 worth of baseball cards.
The Very Reverend Aidan Smith has resigned from Trinity Episcopal Cathedral after being arrested last month in Beaver County for allegedly stealing more than $1,000 worth of baseball cards.
According to authorities, security video captured at a Walmart showed Smith taking cards for several days in a row then leaving without paying for them.
The Episcopal Bishop of Pittsburgh, Right Reverend Ketlen Solak, said in a letter that Smith had been on administrative leave since late January when the church looked into separate allegations against Smith.
Reverend Ketlen’s statement, in part:
“This leave was prompted by an ongoing investigation into questions we received at the end of December and beginning of January suggesting that he may have failed to safeguard the property of the church. On Feb. 15, shortly after his leave began, proceedings under The Episcopal Church’s Title IV canons—which specify the church’s process for addressing clergy misconduct–were formally initiated against him. Given news reports about his arrest, I believe it is now pastorally appropriate to make you aware that for a number of weeks, we have been looking into whether Aidan improperly sold artifacts belonging to the cathedral through online platforms. You will likely read more about this in the media in the coming days.
While the civic charges related to Aidan’s arrest for retail theft are entirely separate from allegations that he failed to safeguard church property, the two matters will proceed as one Title IV case. Aidan has resigned as dean, but he remains canonically resident as a member of the clergy in the Diocese of Pittsburgh and is subject to the Title IV process. Members of the clergy are presumed innocent in Title IV matters unless or until proven otherwise.”
For the full statement, click here.
Smith is facing charges of receiving stolen property and retail theft. His preliminary hearing is set for March 26.