PITTSBURGH (RNS) — A priest who oversaw the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, a historic congregation in downtown Pittsburgh, has resigned following allegations that he stole over $1,000 worth of baseball cards at a Walmart. He had been on administrative leave since January amid claims he sold cathedral artifacts online, according to a letter published Saturday (March 14) from Pittsburgh Bishop Ketlen Solak.
The Rev. Aidan Smith, 42, who had served as dean of the cathedral since 2020, was arrested on Feb. 27 by police in Economy, Pennsylvania — a borough 30 minutes north of Pittsburgh — after allegedly leaving a Walmart store with 27 packs of baseball cards concealed under his clothing. Surveillance footage reportedly captured Smith stealing cards from the same Walmart store on each of the previous four days. In total, police said Walmart valued the stolen cards at $1,099.99, according to The Associated Press.
Court records show Smith was charged with retail theft and receiving stolen property and posted $50,000 bail after an overnight detention. Smith did not respond to RNS’ requests for comment.
In her Saturday letter, addressed to the Trinity Cathedral community and posted on the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh’s website, Solak said the diocese received questions in late December and early January suggesting Smith had not safeguarded church property.
“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,” Solak wrote.
On Monday, The Living Church reported that an eBay seller sold over a dozen pieces of church silve …