BishopAccountability.org
	Louisa Folks Puzzled, but Forgiving Louisa County Residents Are Shocked and Disappointed by Embezzlement Charges against a Popular Priest, but They're Preparing to Forgive By Laura Moyer Free Lance-Star January 18, 2007 http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2007/012007/01182007/252059 Mineral -- A volunteer keeping an eye on visitors to the parish hall of St. Jude Catholic Church had nothing to say about the Rev. Rodney L. Rodis, accused of embezzling more than $600,000 during his tenure in Louisa County. But parishioners' esteem for Rodis is evident. A sign on a roofed, open-sided picnic area near the church parking lot reads: Fr. Rodney Rodis Pavilion. Rodis, 50, was pastor of St. Jude and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Buckner from 1993 until he retired last year citing health reasons. During his tenure, St. Jude underwent a building program and the priest was well-regarded, county residents said yesterday. So news of Rodis' Jan. 8 indictment on a felony count of embezzlement from the two churches stunned parishioners and others in the community. "It's disappointing, isn't it?" said David Whitlock, owner of Mineral Auto Parts. Whitlock, who is Baptist, met Rodis once at an interdenominational Thanksgiving celebration and was impressed with the priest's friendliness. Rodis' parishioners spoke highly of him as a good person and a good leader, Whitlock said. "Everybody I think is pretty shocked," at the charges, Whitlock said. The community "would love to find out it isn't true," he said, "but there are a lot of question marks." Among those question marks is Rodis' relationship with Joyce Sillidor, 44, who shares a Spotsylvania County home with Rodis and has sometimes used Rodis' last name. Neighbors assumed that Rodis and Sillidor were husband and wife, and that three girls who live in the home were the couple's daughters. In the county seat of Louisa, residents are avidly following news reports about Rodis, and "it's a topic of discussion here every day," said feed store employee John Carver. "There are a lot of people in that church community who believed in him. I'm sure they're very disappointed to be undermined by someone they trusted," he said. Carver said he's not a churchgoer, but "you'd think that in a church of all places you'd find someone you could put your trust in." If the allegations against Rodis are proven, he said, Rodis owes the community an explanation and apology. Then, he said, "If God's willing to forgive people, they can forgive" Rodis. Rebecca Sparks, a barber in Mineral, is at that point already. She's attended Mass at St. Jude or Immaculate Conception since she moved to the area from New York state five years ago. Parishioners liked and respected "Father Rodney," she said. "Forgive and forget is the best I can say," Sparks said. "It's not my place to judge any person. Leave it in God's hands." To reach LAURA MOYER: 540/374-5417 or Email: lmoyer@freelancestar.com Related: State police official believes the total amount embezzled could be more than $1 million.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.