Former Bishop Christopher Saunders Convicted Of Sexual Abuse Of Two Indigenous Men

A jury in the District Court of Western Australia on Thursday found former Broome Bishop Christopher Saunders, 76, guilty on 13 of 19 charges alleging sexual abuse of two young Indigenous men. The alleged offending occurred between 2008 and 2019 in the expansive Broome diocese on Australia's northwest coast.

Verdict and Charges

The convictions include one count of sexual penetration without consent and 12 counts of indecent assault. Saunders was acquitted on six other charges, some of which involved a third alleged victim and an allegation of indecent dealing with a person over 16. Four charges alleging sexual penetration of a child younger than 13 were dropped on the first day of the three-week trial.

'The accused had a sexual interest in young Aboriginal men and a tendency to act on that interest when the opportunity presented itself,' Prosecutor Adam Ebell told jurors.

Allegations About Parties And Conduct

Prosecutors said Saunders used a church-owned house in the tourist town of Broome to host alcohol-fuelled gatherings, using church funds to supply free alcohol and cigarettes to young male guests. Witnesses testified that house rules sometimes required male-only guests to remove their shirts. In closing submissions, defence counsel Tony Hager acknowledged Saunders organised 'boozy parties' where men often removed shirts and shorts, but argued the conduct was drunken or sleazy rather than sexual.

FILE - Bishop Christopher Saunders of Broome, left, tries to play a didgeridoo during a World Youth Day 2008 media event in Sydney, Australia, on April 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith, File)(AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

Investigation, Vatican Report And Background

Saunders led the remote Broome Diocese from 1996 until his resignation in 2021. The diocese covers an area larger than France and serves roughly 50,000 people, most of whom are Indigenous. The Vatican opened an internal investigation in 2022 and in 2023 provided a 200-page report to the Western Australia Police, prompting police to reopen a criminal probe. Media reports that later leaked the Vatican report suggested Saunders likely sexually assaulted several Indigenous youths and may have groomed others.

Aftermath And Next Steps

Saunders showed little visible reaction when the verdicts were announced. He had been free on bail during the proceedings. He did not apply to remain on bail after the guilty verdicts and is due to be sentenced on Sept. 21. The current Bishop of Broome, Tim Norton, issued an apology to victims and to the wider diocesan community, acknowledging the deep hurt caused by the betrayal of trust.

Wider Context

The case comes amid a broader, international clergy abuse crisis that has affected the Catholic Church and the Vatican's reputation. A national inquiry found that roughly 7% of Australian Catholic priests were accused of sexually abusing children between 1950 and 2010, highlighting systemic problems that have led to multiple investigations and reforms.