Roman Catholic priest Philp Jacobs, right, leaves court in Victoria Friday. (CBC)

A Roman Catholic priest who resigned from a Victoria-area church eight years ago is facing several child sexual abuse charges.

Philip Jacobs was a priest at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Saanich from 1998 to 2002, but resigned following allegations that he sexually abused teenaged boys at his former parish in Ohio.

Saanich police conducted an investigation following a local complaint against Jacobs in 2002, but no charges were recommended at the time.

Another complaint made in 2009 resulted in charges of sexual assault, sexual interference and sexual exploitation being laid in July, Sgt. Dean Jantzen said Friday.

The U.S.-born Jacobs, 60, was arrested Wednesday re-entering the country at Victoria airport, Jantzen said.

Jantzen would not say how many minors are involved in the investigation.

"The specific number or accounts, we won't be sharing that information as of yet," Jantzen told CBC News. "We also believe that there is going to be more information that might come forward in coming days."

The Bishop of the Diocese of Victoria, Richard Gagnon, apologized to parishioners in a statement issued Friday.

"I am truly sorry for any harm caused by this situation and the impact on all those affected," Gagnon said.

None of the charges against Jacobs have been proven in court.

Jacobs made a court appearance in Victoria on Friday and was released on a promise to appear at a later date.