The head priest at Trinity Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh faces a preliminary hearing later this month on charges that he stole more than $1,000 worth of baseball cards in February.
The Very Rev. Aidan E. Smith, 42, of Ambridge, was charged with retail theft and receiving stolen property. The Associated Press reports that Smith was arrested Feb. 27 by Economy police shortly after leaving the borough’s Walmart, where they found 27 packs of baseball cards under his clothing and in a cardboard box.
The Right Rev. Ketlen Solak, Episcopal bishop of Pittsburgh, announced Sunday that Smith — who had been on administrative leave since late January — would be placed on suspension. Solak said that was in keeping with the church’s Title IV canons, which sets forth its process for handling clergy misconduct.
Smith was released on bail on Feb. 28. A preliminary hearing initially scheduled for Thursday was continued to Thursday, March 26.
Church officials were not able to be immediately reached for comment Wednesday night.
“I have spoken with Aidan and assured him of our prayers for him in this difficult time,” Solak wrote in a letter to church members. “Please pray for Aidan, (his wife) and their children, for the entire cathedral congregation as we grieve this news, and for everyone involved in this hard situation.”