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priest plea is possible
March 12 arraignment set in case of Louisa County priest accused of embezzling from two rural churchesDate published: 2/27/2007 BY BILL FREEHLING A Catholic priest accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from two churches in Louisa County might plead guilty March 12, his attorney said yesterday. Rodney Lee Rodis, 50, was in Louisa Circuit Court briefly yesterday to tell Judge Timothy K. Sanner he had hired Louisa attorney Jack Maus to represent him on the embezzlement charge. The judge set Rodis' arraignment for 2 p.m. March 12. Maus spoke with reporters outside court after the hearing. He's been reviewing the evidence and said that Rodis "may be in a position to enter a plea on March 12." Maus also addressed questions about a woman and children who had been living in Spotsylvania County with Rodis, a pastor at St. Jude and Immaculate Conception Catholic churches for 13 years before retiring for health reasons in May. Spotsylvania court records show that Rodis and 44-year-old Joyce Sillador had lived together in the Sheraton Hills area. There were also three girls living at the Watson Lane home. Neighbors believed Rodis and Sillador were married with children. Maus told reporters yesterday that he could say "very certainly that Father Rodney is not married." But Maus referred to Sillador and the children as Rodis' "family" and noted that there are many forms of relationships other than marriage. Maus didn't answer questions about whether the children were Rodis' or whether the priest and Sillador had a common-law marriage. Maus said Sillador and the girls recently moved to New Mexico. He said Rodis, who is free on a $10,000 bond, will stay in Spotsylvania to face the charges. Rodis is a native of the Philippines and had to surrender his passport to get bond. Many of Rodis' former parishioners were in court yesterday to watch. Most declined comment, noting there was nothing left to say. Rodis also didn't comment but has previously apologized to parishioners by e-mail and asked for prayers. The investigation began late last year when a parishioner made a $1,000 donation and asked for a tax receipt. There was no record of the transaction. Rodis was indicted on one felony count of embezzlement Jan. 8. He is formally accused of stealing between September 2001 and October 2006, but state police believe the thefts were going on for years before. Police have said the total amount stolen may have exceeded $1 million. Rodis is in the United States on a religious worker's visa that expires in 2015. It's possible that he could be deported if convicted of felony embezzlement. Rodis can no longer present himself publicly as a priest. The Catholic Diocese of Richmond hasn't said whether it will try to defrock Rodis, but the sacraments he gave will remain valid. Bill Freehling: 540/374-5424
Read more stories about Louisa Date published: 2/27/2007
Rodis and the Richmond Diocese
(posted by
KayNKansas
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
Rodis may or may not be married. Rodis may or may not have children. What difference does it make? He has misrepresented himself, literally fleeced his flock and violated the trust of those to whom he ministered. He is no different than any other person who claims to be the final arbiter of right and wrong..
Rodis and the Richmond Diocese
(posted by
SrMImmaculataDunn
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
The Rodis case, besides highlighting the extremely poor stewardship policies of the Richmond Diocese upwards to the tune of a million dollars, brings attention to the cultural problem of the worldwide abuse of women when the relationship is an unequal one, needs to be investigated further. Perhaps Bishop Francis Xavier DiLorenzo, a fellow Philadelphian whom I have no reason to think is in any way involved in this Rodis debacle, will be forthright with the truth of the matter as it comes to light.
Rodis and the Richmond Diocese
(posted by
SrMImmaculataDunn
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
It is not inconceivable that, while living with a women, the Rev. Rodney L. Rodis had no difficulty is saying that he was not married. He really may not be legally married. He probably would also say that he is a priest who remains faithful to his promise of celibacy. Celibacy has different meanings in different cultures. For priests in many parts of the developing world celibate means not being married, not, not having sex or begetting children.
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