Christopher Saunders convicted of sexual abuse

A District Court of Western Australia jury has convicted former Bishop Christopher Saunders, 76, of 13 counts of sexual abuse against two young Aboriginal men. The offenses, which occurred between 2008 and 2019, included one count of sexual penetration without consent and 12 counts of indecent assault. Prosecutors stated that Saunders used alcohol and cigarettes to lure victims to his church-owned residence in Broome.

Saunders, the former Bishop of the Kimberley diocese, is among the highest-ranking Catholic clerics in Australia to be convicted of sexual assault while in office. While he was acquitted of six charges, including those involving a third complainant, the verdict marks a significant development in the ongoing scrutiny of the Catholic Church.

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe described the crimes as a “betrayal of everything the Gospel and the Catholic Church stand for.” Following the verdict, the Catholic Church announced it will resume its internal investigation into Saunders, the findings of which will inform decisions in Rome regarding his standing within the Church. Saunders remains in custody and is scheduled for sentencing on September 21.