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Former Broome Bishop Christopher Saunders Jailed for Sex Offences - Broome, WA
Smart summary
Former senior Catholic cleric sentenced to six years and six months for abusing two young Indigenous men
Former Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders has been sentenced to six years and six months in prison after being convicted of multiple sexual offences against two young Indigenous men in Western Australia's Kimberley region.
Saunders, 76, was sentenced in the District Court of Western Australia on Wednesday after a jury found him guilty earlier this year of 13 offences involving the two men. The convictions included one count of sexual penetration and 12 counts of indecent assault. He was acquitted of six charges involving a third man.
The offences occurred during the period when Saunders was serving as Bishop of Broome. The court heard that some of the offending took place at Catholic Church-owned properties in Broome, including a residence and a retreat known as the “beach house”. The victims were young Aboriginal men living in the Kimberley region.
During the court proceedings, evidence was heard about gatherings organised by Saunders at Church-owned properties. The court heard that young men were provided with alcohol and food during these gatherings and that Saunders used his position and relationship with the young men in circumstances that led to the offending for which he was convicted.
Judge Martin Flynn imposed an effective sentence of six years and six months. Saunders will be eligible for parole in February 2031. He has remained in custody since being found guilty in August.
The court also heard directly about the continuing impact of the offences on one of the victims. A statement from the victim described significant ongoing emotional pain and the difficulty of moving forward after the abuse.
The judge said Saunders had disregarded the victims' right to make free choices about what happened to their bodies. The sentencing remarks also addressed the abuse of trust involved in the offending, given Saunders' position as a senior religious leader and his relationship with young people in the Kimberley community.
Saunders became Bishop of Broome in 1996 and served in the Kimberley for many years before resigning from the position in 2021. His case subsequently became one of the most significant Australian Catholic clergy abuse prosecutions in recent years.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has apologised to the victims and survivors, acknowledging the seriousness of the offences and the betrayal of trust involved. Church representatives have said the sentence cannot undo the harm experienced by the victims.
SaundersOffencesBroomeCourtVictims
Former Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders has been sentenced to six years and six months in prison after being convicted of multiple sexual offences against two young Indigenous men in Western Australia's Kimberley region.
Saunders, 76, was sentenced in the District Court of Western Australia on Wednesday after a jury found him guilty earlier this year of 13 offences involving the two men. The convictions included one count of sexual penetration and 12 counts of indecent assault. He was acquitted of six charges involving a third man.
The offences occurred during the period when Saunders was serving as Bishop of Broome. The court heard that some of the offending took place at Catholic Church-owned properties in Broome, including a residence and a retreat known as the “beach house”. The victims were young Aboriginal men living in the Kimberley region.
During the court proceedings, evidence was heard about gatherings organised by Saunders at Church-owned properties. The court heard that young men were provided with alcohol and food during these gatherings and that Saunders used his position and relationship with the young men in circumstances that led to the offending for which he was convicted.
Judge Martin Flynn imposed an effective sentence of six years and six months. Saunders will be eligible for parole in February 2031. He has remained in custody since being found guilty in August.
The court also heard directly about the continuing impact of the offences on one of the victims. A statement from the victim described significant ongoing emotional pain and the difficulty of moving forward after the abuse.
The judge said Saunders had disregarded the victims' right to make free choices about what happened to their bodies. The sentencing remarks also addressed the abuse of trust involved in the offending, given Saunders' position as a senior religious leader and his relationship with young people in the Kimberley community.
Saunders became Bishop of Broome in 1996 and served in the Kimberley for many years before resigning from the position in 2021. His case subsequently became one of the most significant Australian Catholic clergy abuse prosecutions in recent years.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has apologised to the victims and survivors, acknowledging the seriousness of the offences and the betrayal of trust involved. Church representatives have said the sentence cannot undo the harm experienced by the victims.
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