Roman Catholic Priest Admits Stealing from Virginia Churches, WJLA, October 26, 2007

Roman Catholic Priest Admits Stealing from Virginia Churches

WJLA
October 26, 2007

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1007/467271.html

A retired Roman Catholic priest who prosecutors said stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from two rural Virginia parishes pleaded guilty Friday to federal mail fraud and money laundering charges.

Rodney L. Rodis, 51, was attired in black & white prison garb and shackled at his ankles as he entered his plea in U.S. District Court. Sentencing was scheduled for Feb 21. He faces up to 40 years in prison. Rodis embezzled money from Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Bumpass and St. Jude Church in Mineral from 2002 until last year, the government said. He allegedly wired at least $515,231 of the money to his native Philippines.

Rodis had previously pleaded not guilty and was scheduled for a bench trial earlier this month.

According to court records, Rodis used the funds largely for his family, which included a spouse and three biological children. Rodis had concealed his family by living about 50 miles from the churches.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond has said Rodis embezzled more than $600,000 from the central Virginia churches, where he was pastor from 1993 until he retired in May 2006 because of health problems.

Rodis originally was charged in state court with 13 embezzlement counts. The Louisa County prosecutor dropped those charges after Rodis was indicted in August by a federal grand jury.

After being charged in state court, Rodis was released on $25,000 bond. That bond was revoked in May after Rodis violated his conditions of release by flying to Detroit to visit a sick child who had been living with him.