Louisa priest's attorney says the matter is a church issue. Louisa priest asks for embezzlement cas

[Ian David]

Date published: 7/19/2007
BY ELLEN BILTZ

An attorney for a Catholic priest indicted on 13 counts of embezzlement asked today that the charges be dismissed, saying the case is a church issue.

Rodney Lee Rodis, 51, is accused of taking up to $1 million from St. Jude and Immaculate Conception Catholic churches in Louisa County, where he was a priest for 13 years.

Rodis’ attorney, John Maus, filed a motion last week, saying the state exceeded its authority by involving itself in a church matter. He cited Virginia law, saying the state is “prohibited from entangling itself in internal church matters. Specifically with regard to church finances.”

Louisa Commonwealth’s Attorney Don Short said he was waiting for a follow-up memo from Maus about the legal authority he cited. But Short said he didn’t “expect the First Amendment to provide any immunity for a criminal investigation.”

More:
http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2007/072007/07192007/0719rodis

[Virginia Dare]

1. Wow, so the church can decide what punishment to mete out?

without interference from the government, dude do you really want the catholic church to deal with your ass? :scared:

[Ian David]

2. Wouldn't it be amazing if you could embezzle money from a church without going to jail?

Is that REALLY where they want to be going?

[Virginia Dare]

3. Is that really where HE wants to be going?

I guess he doesn't realize how the catholic church has dealt with "problems" in the past...:rofl: