Louisa Commonwealth’s Attorney Thomas A. Garrett announced that the Circuit Court denied former priest, Rodney Rodis's motion to dismiss ten indictment counts. The indictments stem from allegations of embezzlement, and allege that Rodis, an employee of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, was responsible for embezzling from two Louisa County parishes.
On speaking of the Court’s ruling, Garrett said “We are pleased with the decision of the court today, and we must now continue to prepare for trial.”
Lawyers for Rodney Rodis argued the state shouldn't get involved in church matters, and that the donation money in question no longer belonged to parishioners. Rodis claims the money was under church control.
The judge denied the motion and agreed with the prosecution, which argued that the Commonwealth has jurisdiction.
Rodis, 52, is currently serving a five-year prison sentence for recent convictions in Federal Court on additional charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. The Jury trial is scheduled to begin on October 29, 2008.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce
(Source: GNW)