Cheryl Ravelo-Gagalac/Reuters
Philippine immigration officials on Wednesday arrested an American Catholic priest who has been accused of sexually assaulting altar boys in the country. The Associated Press reports the Rev. Kenneth Bernard Hendricks, 77, was arrested in a church in the island province of Biliran after an Ohio court issued a warrant for his arrest. The U.S. criminal case reportedly stems from allegations that Hendricks molested at least seven Filipino children, mostly altar boys, during his 37-year stay in the country. The priest allegedly took baths with the boys and threatened them with jail time if they reported the “shocking and appalling” abuse, Bureau of Immigration spokeswoman Dana Sandoval told the AP. Authorities flew Hendricks to Manila, where he has been held at an immigration detention center. The U.S. Embassy is reportedly considering revoking his passport to help Philippine authorities deport him immediately.