A Catholic priest accused of embezzling more than $600,000 from two churches in Virginia has been living a secret double life as a family man in a neighboring county.

For at least eight years, the Reverend Rodney Rodis has shared a home in Fredericksburg with his “wife,” Joyce, and three children.

He explained his frequent absences to neighbors by saying he worked in the import-export business.

In fact, Rev. Rodis, 50, had spent the past 14 years as pastor of the parishes of St. Jude and Immaculate Conception, both in nearby Louisa County.

He retired in May last year due to health problems but was investigated six months later after church officials discovered that a donation to the parishes had not been recorded. Rev. Rodis allegedly set up a separate church bank account, into which he siphoned donations for more than five years.

While court papers do not make clear whether Rev. Rodis, a Filipino, is the father of the children, who range in age between 5 and 20, they do state that he is married.

Neighbors are as shocked by his double life as the Catholic diocese of Richmond, which has suspended him from priestly duties.

Bev King, a former neighbor, said she was “totally dumbfounded” to hear he was a priest, but she added: “I did think there was something strange. He was always vague about what he did.”

Bob Hagan, another neighbor, said: “I figure the religious issues are for him to sort out and the legal issues are being sorted out for him.”

John Williams, a member of the Immaculate Conception’s congregation, said he had always assumed Rev. Rodis had lived in a small rectory near St. Jude. He said he had been the best priest the church had ever had. Rev. Rodis was ordained in the Philippines in 1986 and has been living in America since 1991. If convicted, the priest could face up to 20 years in prison.