Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of a disgraced California bishop accused of visiting Mexican brothels and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from his church. Bishop Emanuel Shaleta, 69, was arrested last week as he attempted to board a flight to Germany with a bag containing more than $9,000. He was then charged with eight counts of embezzlement, eight counts of money laundering and one count of aggravated white collar crime enhancement. He has pleaded not guilty. His resignation came as he was released from prison on bail. Last month, The Pillar reported that Bishop Shaleta allegedly misused church funds, diverting rental payments for personal use and covering it up with charity money. Investigators say at least $427,000 went missing, with total losses possibly reaching $1 million. The bishop was also reportedly a frequent visitor to the Hong Kong Gentlemen’s Club, a brothel in Tijuana’s red-light district, using a private shuttle reserved for patrons, according to a private investigator. An Iraqi native, Shaleta was ordained by Pope John Paul II in 1984 and served in Detroit and Canada.
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