Three Priests In Legal Trouble Across America Involving Prostitution, Theft Of Baseball Cards, Feeding The Poor

Three priests in three states are facing charges – including one for zoning violations while feeding the poor.

The three separate cases, in Florida, California and Pennsylvania, each couldn’t be more strange, the only thing in common among them that they involve alleged illegal behavior of the “highest order.”

The weirdest one may be a Florida priest, the Rev. Bob Caudill of All Saints Catholic Mission in Oakland Park, who faces over $500,000 in city fines for – true story – feeding the homeless.

The fines, accumulating at $125 a day since 2014, stem from a longstanding zoning dispute after the city re-zoned the area, deeming the ministry’s feeding program non-permitted.

Caudill is refusing to back down from his commitment to helping the poor, aghast he’s up against charges for doing what priests are called to do.

For 36 years, Caudill has been feeding the homeless, offering them showers and giving spiritual guidance.

For the last 12 of the 36 years, he’s been locked in a standoff with the city, which alleges he’s operating a non-permitted soup kitchen.

“In 2014, they decided to rezone the area. They told me fallaciously that ‘you have to stop feeding; you’re not fitting into the new zoning,’” Caudill told The Associated Press.

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In San Diego, California, meanwhile, Bishop Emmanuel Shaleta, head of the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle, was arrested at San Diego International Airport while reportedly attempting to leave the country.

Shaleta faces eight counts each of embezzlement and money laundering and one count of aggravated white-collar crime.

He directed tenants to pay rent in cash directly to him, then “reimbursed” the church from its own charity account.

Police say up to $1 million is unaccounted for.

Shaleta also allegedly has been making regular late-night trips to the Hong Kong Gentlemen’s Club.

The Vatican, which reportedly has confirmed the brothel visits, has accepted Shelata’s resignation.

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In a third case – almost as bizarre as a priest in trouble for feeding the poor – the head priest and dean of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Pittsburgh is facing charges after being accused of stealing baseball cards from Walmart.

Rev. Aidan Smith was arrested by police last month just after leaving a Walmart just outside Pittsburgh, with 27 packs of baseball cards concealed under his clothing, according to court records.

Smith has been charged with receiving stolen property and retail theft.

Police said they responded to a call from Walmart security, who said Smith was in the store again after having stolen from it in previous days.

Walmart security video shows him taking a total of $1,100 worth of baseball cards on several occasions, walking out of the store each time without paying.