Former Australian Bishop Jailed for Sexually Abusing Two Aboriginal Men

Former Australian Catholic bishop Christopher Saunders has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison for sexually abusing two young Aboriginal men during his time as a cleric. The 76-year-old, who resigned as Bishop of Broome after allegations emerged in 2020, was convicted in August of one count of rape and 12 counts of indecent assault. He will be eligible for parole in February 2031.

The trial in Western Australia heard that Saunders systematically groomed the two men between 2010 and 2019, allegedly inviting them to gatherings where they were encouraged to remove their shirts and providing them with alcohol. Prosecutors said church funds and church-owned properties were used in some of the encounters. Saunders was convicted of kissing and sexually assaulting the men, including forcing oral sex on one of them.

In a victim impact statement, one of the men described the lasting psychological and emotional impact of the abuse, saying he continued to struggle to speak about what had happened. The case makes Saunders one of the most senior Catholic figures to face sexual abuse convictions, highlighting the allegations of misconduct that emerged during his years as a senior cleric in Western Australia.