PITTSBURGH \u2014 The head clergyman of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Downtown Pittsburgh has resigned amid allegations of retail theft.<\/p>\n
Ketlen Solak, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, issued a letter to the Trinity Cathedral community on Saturday. <\/p>\n
In the letter, Solak said she\u2019d accepted the resignation of Dean Aidan Smith.<\/p>\n
Last week, Channel 11 told you about theft and receiving stolen property charges filed against Smith, after police say he tried to steal $1,000 worth of baseball cards<\/a> from the Walmart in Economy. <\/p>\n Smith had been on administrative leave since January. <\/p>\n In Saturday\u2019s letter, Bishop Solak said Smith\u2019s leave was \u201cprompted 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Procedures within the Episcopal Church for handling clergy misconduct began soon after his leave began, Solak said.<\/p>\n Following Smith\u2019s arrest, Solak said, she\u2019s found it \u201cpastorally appropriate\u201d to let the church know that Smith has been under investigation for weeks over \u201cwhether (he) improperly sold artifacts belonging to the cathedral through online platforms.\u201d<\/p>\n The theft charges following Smith\u2019s arrest are unrelated to the allegations of mishandling church property, Solak said; however, the matters will move forward under the same disciplinary case in the Episcopal Church. Smith is innocent until proven guilty under the Church\u2019s Title IV process.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease continue to pray for Aidan, his family and for everyone impacted by these events,\u201d Solak said.<\/p>\n In the meantime, Solak and other church officials will take charge of the cathedral. Discussions about the future will begin in three to four months after a period to \u201cbreathe and heal,\u201d the bishop said.<\/p>\n Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n TOP STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS <\/p>\n \u00a92026 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n