Jack Maus, lawyer of Rodis, said the federal authorities’ picking up and taking this case to Richmond kind of “relieves us of the burden of what to do with this priest who apparently disappointed us greatly.” He added he will not be defending Rodis against the federal charges.

He said the federal indictments revealed more about the case against the priest.

The new indictments allege that Rodis launched a devious scheme to steal more than $500,000 from parishioners at two Louisa County churches. The feds said Rodis set up bank accounts, a P.O. box, and even had special stamps made for endorsing checks and that he then allegedly laundered that stolen money to the Philippians.

State prosecutors said they hoped the feds will be able to recover the money embezzled by Rodis.

“They have agents around the world. So that may have some impact on monies that have been alleged to have been taken to get back into coffers of the church," said Louisa County Commonwealth Attorney Don Short.

Federal authorities also speculated the Catholic priest used the money to better his life with his spouse and three biological children. Those involved in this case up to this point are still not confirming the priest’s double life.

“I can’t disclose at this point whether or not that I am aware or  that Joyce is his wife or those are his kids," said Maus.

Short said he did not know that either.

State prosecutors say they will let federal prosecutors take over from here, even though it might not amount to double jeopardy if Rodis were to be tried in both courts. That’s because Rodis is facing different charges in each court.

Rodis is detained at the Central Virginia Regional jail after his $25,000 bond was revoked several months ago because he left the state to visit his wife and children in New Mexico in violation of the terms of his temporary liberty. They used to reside in a house in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

In previous hearings, Rodis at first denied the embezzlement charges. Then he claimed it was his right to disburse funds of the church. In last month’s hearings, his lawyer questioned the jurisdiction of the court, saying that because of the separation of church and state, only the church has jurisdiction over the priests his case.

The federal indictment said Fr. Rodis embezzled money from Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Bumpass and St. Jude Church in Mineral from 2002 to 2006. It added that Rodis wired at least $515,231 of misappropriated parishioner contributions to the Philippines.

Father Rodis originally faced felony embezzlement charges that he diverted more than $600,000 from the two churches. He pleaded not guilty in March, and his five-day trial was to start on Oct. 1.

“He (Rodis) came in through Tidewater and had friends there,” said the Most Rev.  Walter F. Sullivan, who was bishop of the Richmond diocese in 1991 when Rodis was officially accepted as a priest in the diocese.  Sullivan, who retired in 2003, is now bishop emeritus of the diocese.

“We were in need of priests at the time. He was well liked,” he said.  “This is a shock to everybody, including me. I am upset for the people of the churches,” Sullivan said.

“We never would have accepted him without clearance from his superior.  There were no red flags,” he said. Sullivan added he doesn’t remember if he personally checked with Rodis’ religious order. The priest was ordained in the Order of St. Camillus in 1986 in the Philippines. Louisa court records say that at the time of his arrest, Rodis had a green card, which means he is a legal permanent resident of the U.S.  Rodis could be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison on each of the 13 counts if he is convicted.

Police seized from Rodis’ home bank records and other items, including a receipt for Lucky Money dated May 24, 2006. Lucky Money Inc. is a service for wiring money to the Philippines, Rodis’ home country.  The diocese said it became aware of financial irregularities in the fall when a donor to Immaculate Conception requested verification of a $1,000 contribution for tax purposes and the parish could not find a record of the donation.

The investigation of Rodis also uncovered court records listing Rodis and Joyce Sillador-Rodis as husband and wife of a deed of trust for mortgage on a house they shared with three children in Spotsylvania County.  Rodis has denied being married to the woman, although neighbors say he has referred to her as his wife for the past decade. The woman and children have moved to New Mexico.

The Philippine archbishop was commenting on newspaper reports of the indictment of Rodis on federal charges.

Philippine Archbishop Cruz made the comment following publication of newspaper reports in Mania about the indictment of Rodis on federal charges.

The CBCP official stressed that Rodis had already violated Church laws by marrying and having three children when he was still a priest.

“I wonder how come he was allowed to function as a priest when he is keeping a woman and has children. He is a good candidate for the  penalty of dismissal from the clerical state," Cruz said in an interview The Philippine Star website carried comments from Filipinos about the Rodis case. One claiming to be “Apeng Daldal” insinuated that there are also priests in the Philippines who do the same thing. “That should serve as a warning to other priests. But everybody whether you are a priest or a minister faces temptations. A lot of things in this world may draw us away from God. Nobody is immune from the lure of worldy goods.

Another said: “Well the Filipino American community should know by now that that most of the priests that are imported have some sort of controversy in the Philippines. This guy right here might have a mistress back in the Philippines. Now he will be a mistress of Bubba.”