Former Broome bishop Christopher Saunders has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing two young Aboriginal men during his time as a senior Catholic cleric in Western Australia.
Saunders, 76, was sentenced on Wednesday after being found guilty in August of one count of rape and 12 counts of indecent assault. The former bishop will be eligible to apply for parole in February 2031.
The case has drawn significant attention due to Saunders’ senior position within the Catholic Church. He is considered one of the most senior Catholic leaders in the world to be convicted of sex offences.
During the trial, the court heard that Saunders systematically groomed the two victims over a number of years. Evidence presented to the jury alleged that he invited the young men to so-called “shirts-off” gatherings, supplied them with alcohol, and used church-owned properties and church funds during the offending period.
The offences occurred between 2010 and 2019 and included incidents in which Saunders kissed and indecently assaulted the victims. The court also heard evidence that he forced one of the men to perform oral sex.
While Saunders was convicted in relation to two victims, he was acquitted of allegations involving a third young man.
A victim impact statement presented to the court described the lasting emotional and psychological effects of the abuse.
“I was a toy that he was using,” the victim said.
“My head is pounding now, I’m in so much pain.”
District Court Judge Martin Flynn said Saunders had disregarded the dignity of his victims and caused lasting harm through his actions.
Ordained as a Catholic priest in 1976, Saunders spent much of his career working in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia before being appointed Bishop of Broome in 1996. The Diocese of Broome covers approximately 770,000 square kilometres, making it one of Australia’s largest and most remote Catholic dioceses.
The accusations against Saunders first became public in 2020, prompting his resignation as Bishop of Broome. An initial police investigation was closed without charges, but the matter was reopened following a rare Vatican-ordered inquiry.
The investigation was conducted under “Vos Estis Lux Mundi”, a process introduced by Pope Francis in 2019 to improve accountability among bishops and senior church officials accused of misconduct. Only a small number of such inquiries have been conducted worldwide.
Following the sentencing, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe of Perth praised the victims for their courage in pursuing justice.
“We are sorry for the pain and suffering that was inflicted on you. We are sorry that your trust was so directly and profoundly betrayed by a leader of the church,” he said.
“No court sentence can undo the suffering that has been caused or restore all that each person has lost.”
The Catholic Church has previously indicated that its internal investigation into Saunders, which was paused during the criminal proceedings, is expected to resume. There are ongoing calls for the church to remove any remaining titles or ministry powers still associated with the former bishop, with such decisions ultimately resting with Vatican authorities.
The sentencing marks one of the most significant abuse convictions involving a senior Catholic figure in Australia. Aside from the late Cardinal George Pell, whose conviction was later overturned, Saunders is among the highest-ranking Catholic officials in the country to face criminal charges related to sexual abuse.
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