Former Bishop Jailed for Sexually Abusing Aboriginal Men

A former Catholic bishop known for hosting boozy parties has been jailed for at least four and a half years for sexually abusing two young Aboriginal men.

Christopher Alan Saunders, 76, the ex-bishop of Broome, was found guilty of 13 sex offenses after a jury trial in the West Australian District Court. The charges, spanning from 2008 to 2019, included one count of sexual penetration without consent and 12 counts of unlawful and indecent assault.

Saunders was sentenced on Wednesday to six years and six months imprisonment and will be eligible for parole after serving four years and six months. If not acquitted on appeal, he would be the highest-ranking Catholic in Australia convicted of sexual abuse during his clerical service. This follows the case of Cardinal George Pell, who was convicted in 2018 but later acquitted by the High Court of rape and molestation charges.

The jury acquitted Saunders of six other charges, including indecent dealing with a child over 16 and four counts of unlawful and indecent assault. Seven similar charges were dismissed during the trial due to insufficient evidence.

The sentence is backdated to August 12, when Saunders was convicted and taken into custody.

Saunders, referred to as 'Brother B' by his victims, reportedly organized alcohol-fueled parties at Catholic Church-owned properties to gain access to Aboriginal boys and men for sexual assaults. The abuse included unwanted touching and kissing, often after Saunders had supplied the men with significant amounts of alcohol.

Ordained as the second Broome bishop in 1996, Saunders oversaw 13 schools and nine parishes before stepping aside in 2020 when the allegations surfaced. Pope Francis accepted his resignation a year later. A church investigation into Saunders' activities was suspended when West Australian police began their inquiry and is set to resume now that the trial has concluded. Archbishop Timothy Costelloe stated in August that the findings would inform decisions in Rome regarding Saunders' church status, and acknowledged the courage of the victims and survivors who came forward.