Catholic priest charged with sex abuse

SAANICH - A former Saanich Catholic priest has been arrested and is facing sex charges. Father Philip Jacobs has been out of the country for the past eight years, but was arrested at Victoria International Airport when he returned on a flight from San Francisco on Wednesday. Jacobs was the priest at the parish of St. Joseph The Worker in Saanich until he resigned in 2002. Saanich Police say it was around then they began investigating Jacobs for sexual abuse. Last year more complaints led to another investigation. Friday evening Jacobs was released from jail. He did not answer reporters' questions as he was ushered into a van and driven away. The Catholic Diocese is now facing questions: why he was hired and if it knew about his background.