Diocese attorney William Etherington said the recent embezzlement charge against Rodney Lee Rodis doesn't affect parishioners who were married, baptized or confirmed by the now-suspended priest.

"You're not going to undo a wedding or baptism because the priest may be a sinner," Etherington said yesterday.

Representatives from the Richmond diocese went to mass Sunday at St. Jude in Mineral and Immaculate Conception in Buckner to speak with parishioners in the wake of the news that Rodis had been charged with embezzlement and was living with a woman in Spotsylvania County.

Etherington said yesterday that it was the church's understanding that Rodis isn't married. He said Rodis would have been excommunicated had he been married.

Etherington said it's unclear how much time Rodis spent in the St. Jude rectory while he was pastor.

He said cases involving pastors seeking alternative living arrangements are taken up on a case-by-case basis. He said the Catholic Diocese of Richmond was unaware that Rodis may have been living in Spotsylvania.

Rodis, 50, was indicted Jan. 8 by a Louisa grand jury on one count of felony embezzlement. Etherington said he's accused of stealing about $600,000 from the two rural churches, and state police investigators believe it may be more.

Rodis, a native and citizen of the Philippines, spent 13 years at the two Louisa churches. He retired as pastor this past May, citing health concerns. Etherington said the priest has battled prostate cancer.

An investigation began in November after a parishioner who had donated $1,000 asked for a receipt for tax reasons. There was no record of the donation. Rodis is accused of embezzling that money and other checks donated to the church as far back as September 2001, state police say.

Etherington said Rodis is primarily suspected of embezzling funds from checks that were made out to the churches. He said that more than one person would have kept watch over collection-plate donations, but the priest had signing authority on checks.