Ex-Bishop Christopher Saunders Jailed 6.5 Years After 13 Sex Offence Convictions Against Two Aboriginal Men

Former Catholic bishop Christopher Saunders has been jailed for six and a half years for 13 sex offences against two young Aboriginal men in Western Australia.

The 76-year-old former Bishop of Broome was sentenced in the District Court in Perth on Wednesday, after being found guilty in August of one count of sexual penetration and 12 counts of indecent assault. The offences occurred while he was leading the vast Kimberley diocese. He will be eligible for parole in February 2031 and retains the right to appeal.

The convictions followed a trial that examined Saunders's conduct towards young Aboriginal men during his time as bishop. The court heard evidence about gatherings at Church-owned properties, alcohol supplied to young men and sexual conduct that formed part of the prosecution case. Saunders denied the allegations during the trial.

Christopher Saunders Victim Says 'I Was a Toy That He Was Using'

District Court Judge Martin Flynn read from a victim impact statement provided by one of the men Saunders abused over several years. 'I was a toy that he was using,' the victim said. 'My head is pounding now, I'm in so much pain. I can't talk about it.'

The court heard that Saunders organised gatherings where young men were supplied with food and alcohol. Some were described as 'shirts off' gatherings, where young men wore only boxer shorts.

Evidence during the trial also described Saunders wrestling and boxing with young men. The court heard that he used his feet to touch young men sexually, kissed them on the lips and grabbed their genitals. In one instance, the court heard that Saunders engaged in oral sex without consent.

Saunders had faced allegations involving three men, but the jury convicted him only of offences involving two of them. He was acquitted of charges relating to a third complainant.

Christopher Saunders 'Disregarded' Victims' Rights, Judge Says

Judge Flynn said Saunders had disregarded the victims' right to make a free choice about 'what they do with their body'.

The judge also addressed character references submitted by people who described Saunders's offending as 'not in character'. He said those people did not know Saunders well and gave no weight to evidence of good character.

Saunders was ordained as a priest in 1976 and spent much of his career in the Kimberley. He served as Bishop of Broome from 1996 until 2021.

As bishop, he led a diocese covering remote communities across north-western Australia. The court heard that some offences occurred at his Church-owned residence in Broome and at a retreat referred to as the 'beach house'.

His former secretary, Cherrille Quilty, who testified during the trial after first alerting police to his activities in 2018, said she believed his prison sentence should have been longer.

Quilty also called for Saunders to be excommunicated. 'It's quite shocking that the Vatican hasn't acted to remove him, we want him excommunicated as quickly as possible,' she said.

Christopher Saunders Convictions Prompt Church Apologies

Catholic leaders issued statements of apology and support for the victims following Saunders's convictions and sentencing. Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, apologised for the suffering inflicted on the victims and the betrayal of their trust.

'We are sorry that your trust was so directly and profoundly betrayed by a leader of the Church,' Costelloe said. He said the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference would redouble its efforts around 'safeguarding, accountability and transparency'.

Current Bishop of Broome Timothy Norton also addressed the impact of the case in a pastoral letter following the convictions. Norton said 'trust has been broken' and that wounds of betrayal and division had been exposed across the diocese.

The accusations against Saunders first emerged publicly in 2020. An initial police investigation was closed without charges. A Church inquiry was later conducted under the Vatican's Vos Estis Lux Mundi process, and police subsequently opened a new investigation.

Church officials have said the canonical investigation into Saunders, which was paused while police pursued the criminal case, is expected to restart. They have also said decisions over his remaining title and ministry powers will be determined by Rome.

Saunders remains Bishop Emeritus of Broome following his convictions and has been in custody since the jury returned its guilty verdicts in August.

His criminal sentence has now been imposed, but the Church process remains unresolved. The expected resumption of the canonical investigation leaves further decisions about Saunders's status and ministry in the hands of Church authorities in Rome.