Is there another Bishop of Bling? Priests resign en masse accusing their bishop of embezzlement

96 Indonesian priests have resigned in protest.

An Indonesian diocese has been rocked by scandal as 69 priests have resigned in protest over their bishop. The priests accuse their bishop of embezzlement and of having an affair. The bishop has dismissed the allegations as slander.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- Priests in the Diocese of Ruteng, on the island of Flores, Indonesia have resigned en masse, submitting a letter to their bishop and the Vatican, accusing their bishop of embezzling over $100,000 in Church funds, and of having an affair with a woman.

The bishop, Hubertus Leteng, has dismissed the allegations, calling them "slanderous."

So far, the Vatican has not responded or opened an investigation, however, this is likely to happen soon.

According to reports, the priests say the bishop borrowed over $94,000 from the Indonesian Bishop's Conference and an additional $30,000 from his own diocese. He did not provide a report for these sums, and it remains unclear how the money was spent. Priests accuse him of giving the money to a woman with whom they allege he was having an affair. Bishop Leteng says the money was given to a young man to attend flight school so he could become a commercial pilot. He added that the details were none of the priest's business.

The resignation of so many priests is sure to attract the attention of the Vatican. Pope Francis has made a point of rooting out corruption. Even if the bishop is honest, his appropriation of the funds and reticence to provide clear answers to the bishops makes his actions suspicious.

What will be the bishop's fate?

If the Bishop of Bling is any indicator, it won't be grim. But he will lose his current post.

In 2014, Bishop of Limberg, Germany, Franz-Peter Tebartz van Elst was compelled to resign after parishioners accused him of building a multi-million-dollar mansion with Church funds. He was eventually summoned to the Vatican where he resigned. In March 2015, he started a new job working as a papal delegate to a Pontifical Council.

Catholic Online will continue to report on this story as it develops.