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	Louisa Priest Solicited Money for Retirement Business Chief for Two Parishes Says Rodis Raised about $27,000 By Calvin R. Trice Richmond Times Dispatch [Luisa VA] February 2, 2007 http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle &c=MGArticle&cid=1149192982820&path=%21news&s=1045855934842 The Louisa County priest accused of embezzling as much as $1 million from two parishes solicited special collections for his retirement months before authorities discovered money was missing. The Rev. Rodney L. Rodis raised about $27,000 around the time he retired as pastor of two Catholic churches last year, Patti Smogor, business manager for both parishes, said yesterday. "People loved him," Smogor said of Rodis, 50. "People wanted to take care of him." Rodis solicited the money in special collections at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Bumpass and at St. Jude Catholic Church in Mineral, she said. He received additional money from a party that parishioners and friends threw for his cause, Smogor said. He retired in May after leading the two parishes for 14 years. While pastor of the churches, he was living with a woman he referred to as his wife and with three children. Rodis, who told diocesan officials he had cancer and other chronic illnesses, informed parishioners he planned to return to his native Philippines after retirement. He is living in a Fredericksburg suburb and had to turn over his passport as part of a bond agreement. The felony embezzlement case against him originated in November when officials with the Catholic Diocese of Richmond found a Pennsylvania donor's check was deposited in a bank account church officials knew nothing about. Investigators believe Rodis deposited donations in the account in a Fredericksburg bank and then used the money for other purposes. A Louisa County grand jury indicted him on the theft charge last month. As part of the investigation, Louisa Commonwealth's Attorney Don Short has subpoenaed records from Lucky Money Inc., which wires money to the Philippines, and from the Philippine National Bank Remittance Center Inc. in Virginia Beach. Short would not comment on whether Rodis used the services to wire money or how much might have been wired. State police, who are investigating the case, also would not comment on possible wire transfers. A state police spokeswoman said the case will not be sent to federal authorities, who often prosecute matters involving overseas money transfers. Rodis is due back in court Feb. 26 to inform a local judge about who will represent him. He could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Contact staff writer Calvin R. Trice at ctrice@timesdispatch.com or (540) 574-9977. Times-Dispatch staff writer Kiran Krishnamurthy contributed to this report.
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