WCAV
January 14, 2009
http://www.charlottesvillenewsplex.tv/news/headlines/37577614.html
Wednesday January 14, 2009
The embezzlement trials of Father Rodney Rodis have taken their toll on parishioners of St. Jude's Church in Mineral and Immaculate Conception Church in Bumpass.
"He is totally untrustworthy," said St. Jude's parishioner Marilyn Gutekenst. "He didn't practice what he preached at all."
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"He doesn't care," added St. Jude's parishioner Albert Gutekenst. "I mean, he's hurt us. He's hurt everybody in both churches."
Rodis was sentenced Wednesday to 13 years in prison; Judge Timothy Sanner suspending 187 years of Rodis' original 200 year state sentence. The 52-year-old will have to serve those 13 years in addition to the five he got in his federal embezzlement trial.
This all stems from Rodis admittedly stealing more than $1 million from his two churches; using money that was supposed to go toward church maintenence and mission trips and instead spending it on property in his native Philippines.
"Restitution's not going to happen in this case. We don't anticipate it. We would like to find that it is," said Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Rusty Maguire.
Asked if he expects restitution, Albert Gutekenst answered, "no way in you-know-what. There's no way...we'll get absolutely nothing."
While the courts would maintain the Rodis ordeal is now in the past, those parishioners say they're going to need a little more time.
"I still believe in what we were taught by the Bible. I still believe in what we're taught by Rome," Marilyn Gutekenst said, adding, "but human beings are human beings and human beings make mistakes."
"Like the Bible said, 'Judge ye not lest ye be judged,'" Albert Gutekenst added. "I can forgive him, but I can't forget."
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