Priest Accused of Theft Former Catholic Priest in Louisa County Charged with Embezzlement, by Bill Freehling, Free Lance-Star [Virginia], January 12, 2007

Priest Accused of Theft
Former Catholic Priest in Louisa County Charged with Embezzlement

By Bill Freehling
Free Lance-Star [Virginia]
January 12, 2007

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2007/012007/01122007/250474

Bond was reduced yesterday for a Catholic priest accused of stealing at least $600,000 from two small churches in Louisa County during the past five years.

Rodney Lee Rodis, 50, was indicted Monday by a Louisa grand jury on one felony count of embezzlement. He's accused of stealing from St. Jude Catholic Church in Mineral and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Buckner. He was pastor at both churches for more than a decade.

Rodis faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. William Etherington, an attorney for the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, said they hope restitution will be part of any possible sentence.

Rodney Rodis

Etherington said the total loss is estimated at $600,000. Louisa Commonwealth's Attorney Don Short said only that the amount of money was "considerable."

State police Sgt. Kevin Barrick said the investigation continues, and that "the amount is still getting larger." He said the figure is probably higher than $600,000. Rodis is accused of embezzling the funds between September 2001 and this past October.

Etherington said that Immaculate Conception has 114 families, and St. Jude has 276.

Rodis was arrested Tuesday and had been at the Central Virginia Regional Jail in Orange under a $100,000 bond. Yesterday morning, Louisa General District Judge Edward K. Carpenter reduced his bond to $10,000.

Short said he agreed to have the bond lowered so Rodis could get out of jail before the trial. Rodis has health problems and was walking with a cane yesterday in court, Short said.

Short added that Rodis is not a dangerous person. A native of the Philippines, Rodis had to turn over his passport as part of the bond conditions. He'll be on pre-trial supervision and isn't allowed to leave Virginia before the trial. Rodis is not a U.S. citizen, Short said.

Short said Rodis has another hearing scheduled Thursday morning; they'll set an arraignment date and determine who will represent Rodis. Short said the trial could be in April or May.

Rodis was the pastor at St. Jude and Immaculate Conception from 1993 until this past May, Etherington said. He retired in May for medical reasons and had been living in Spotsylvania County, where he was arrested Tuesday.

Etherington said that Rodis had been a popular pastor. The Virginia State Police began investigating him this past November after a parishioner made a donation but got no receipt.

There was no record of the transaction, Etherington said. Police were contacted and investigated the matter for about two months before pursuing the indictment.

Etherington said that as pastor, Rodis would have had the power to deposit checks made out to the churches.

"The pastor is very much in control," Etherington said.

To reach BILL FREEHLING:540/374-5424

Email: bfreehling@freelancestar.com