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Christopher Saunders

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Australian Catholic prelate (born 1950)

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The Most Reverend


Christopher Saunders
Bishop of Broome
Church
DioceseBroome
Appointed3 November 1995
Term ended21 August 2021
PredecessorJohn Jobst
SuccessorTim Norton
Other postBishop emeritus of Broome (2021‍–‍present)
Orders
Ordination28 August 1976
by John Jobst
Consecration8 February 1996
by John Jobst, Justin Bianchini, Edmund Collins
Personal details
BornChristopher Alan Saunders
(1950-01-15) 15 January 1950 (age 76)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
EducationSaint Paul University
Coat of arms
Christopher Saunders's coat of arms

Christopher Alan Saunders (born 15 January 1950) is an Australian prelate of the Catholic Church who was the bishop of the Latin Church diocese of Broome from 1996 to 2021, when he resigned amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

On 21 February 2024, Saunders was charged with rape, as well as other sex offences, after a long running investigation by Australian police. In August 2026, he was convicted of sexual offences against two men. He was taken into custody and is awaiting sentencing by Perth District Court.

Life and career

Christopher Saunders was born on 15 January 1950. He studied at St Bede's College in Mentone, Victoria, and then studied philosophy for three years with the Columban Fathers. Having developed an interest in Aboriginal affairs, he was accepted by the Diocese of Broome and continued his studies in theology at St Francis Xavier Seminary in Adelaide. He worked as a deacon in Broome in 1975 and was ordained a priest of that diocese on 28 August 1976. His assignments took him to La Grange Mission (1976–1978), Lombadina Mission (1978–1982) and Kalumburu Mission (1982–1988). From 1989 to 1995 he was administrator of Broome, interrupted by two years of study for a licentiate in canon law at Saint Paul's Pontifical University in Ottawa, Canada.[1]

Saunders was named bishop of Broome, Australia, on 3 November 1995 and consecrated a bishop on 8 February 1996.[2]

Investigation into sex offences

The initial complaint of sexual abuse was filed in 2018, but the investigation was still open in 2020 without any charges.[3]

A journalistic investigation was aired about the alleged sex offenses and financial misconduct in Australia in 2020.[4]

Stepping down

On 9 March 2020, Saunders voluntarily stood aside from the administration of the diocese after the Vatican ordered a review of the diocese. Church authorities did not indicate any connection between that investigation and the news that Western Australian Police had been investigating an allegation of sexual misconduct made against him 18 months earlier.[5] Peter Ingham, Bishop emeritus of Wollongong, has been tasked with the church's investigation into Saunders' management, including financial affairs and handling allegations of sexual misconduct by priests.[6] The church had received complaints about Saunders as early as April 2019 and tried to evaluate them while preventing their repetition and without alerting Saunders.[7] On 27 November 2020, Saunders agreed to take a six-months leave "outside the Diocese",[8] where his continued performance in public as a priest has provoked complaints.[7]

In May 2021, government officials decided not to file criminal charges.[6] Pope Francis accepted his resignation as Bishop of Broome on 28 August 2021.[9][10]

Vos estis lux mundi inquiry

The Vatican ordered a Vos estis lux mundi inquiry into the allegations, it was started in September 2022 and concluded in April 2023. The report was leaked and concluded that Saunders likely sexually assaulted four youths while potentially grooming another 67.[11]

Investigation, arrest and trial

In October 2023, the WA Police commenced a new investigation into Saunders codenamed Operation STENT.

On 15 January 2024, Saunders was arrested in Leschenault, a suburb south of Perth near the town of Bunbury. He was interviewed by Police at the Midland Police Station and released without charge later that night.[12]

While he was in custody in Perth, secret Police teams installed hidden cameras and microphones in his car in Perth, as well as in his car and home in Broome. These secret recordings showing his interactions with young aboriginal men were played at his trial.

Saunders was arrested a total of six times during the Operation STENT investigation: the first being 15 January 2024; the second on 21 February 2024 where he was charged with 19 sex offences, including rape, with some of the charges for acts he was alleged to have committed against children;[13][14]; again on 17 April 2024 where he was charged with two sex offences[15] again on 26 November 2024 where he was charged with several sex offences[16]; he was arrested again on 26 January 2025 where he was charged with several sex offences including the rape of a child under 13 years old[16]; and the sixth and final arrest occurred on 4 June 2025, where he was released without charge.

The trial began in the Perth District Court on 21 July 2026. On the first day the charges relating to the sex offences against a child under 13 years old were discontinued.[17] On 13 August 2026, after a trial lasting more than three weeks, Saunders was found of guilty one count of sexual penetration and 12 counts of indecent assault. He was found not guilty of six other charges put before the Judge.[18] The lead investigator, Detective Sergeant Andrew Broadley of the Western Australia Police Child Sex Abuse Squad, spoke to the media after the guilty verdicts to acknowledge the victims and witnesses "who showed tremendous courage in coming forward, engaging with Police and taking part in the investigative process and ultimately the prosecution"[17].

Saunders appeared in the Perth District Court on 21 September 2026, for a sentencing hearing. On that same day, the Perth District Court released the Police covert surveillance recordings showing Saunders grooming a young aboriginal man in his Broome home in early 2024.[19]

Sentence

Saunders is due to be sentenced in the Perth District Court on 7 October 2026.[19]

References

  1. ^ "Bishop Christopher Saunders". Diocese of Broome. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Bishop Christopher Alan Saunders". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. 25 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Bringing Down a Bishop: The Sins of Christopher Saunders". 7NEWS Spotlight. 15 March 2024 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ Reason, Christopher (March 2020). "One of Australia's most powerful Catholic figures likely sexually assaulted four youths, Vatican report alleges". 7NEWS.
  5. ^ Parke, Erin; Tomlin, Sam; Collins, Ben. "Catholic Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders voluntarily steps down amid investigation into allegation of sexual misconduct". ABC News. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  6. ^ a b Parke, Erin (19 May 2021). "Catholic Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders will not be prosecuted over allegations of sexual misconduct". ABC News. Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  7. ^ a b Parke, Erin (3 July 2020). "Documents reveal church stayed quiet on sexual misconduct allegations against Broome Bishop for almost a year". Archived from the original on 22 February 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  8. ^ Tomlin, Sam (28 November 2020). "Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders to leave diocese for six months amid police and Vatican investigations". ABC News. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 28.08.2021" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Pope replaces Australian bishop in alleged misconduct probe". The Washington Post. Associated Press. 28 August 2021. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  11. ^ Tomlin, Sam (18 September 2023). "One of Australia's most powerful Catholic figures likely sexually assaulted four youths, Vatican report alleges". Seven News. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  12. ^ Runciman, Caleb (15 January 2025). "Broome Bishop Christopher Saunders: Child abuse detectives raid home of Catholic Church leader". The West Australian.
  13. ^ "Former Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders faces 19 charges". ABC News. 21 February 2024. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Australian bishop Christopher Saunders charged with rape". BBC News. 21 February 2024. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  15. ^ McKnight, Gareth (17 April 2024). "Former Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders faces two new indecent assault charges". ABC News.
  16. ^ a b Kirk, Emma (29 January 2025). "Ex-Broome bishop Christopher Saunders faces more historical sexual abuse charges". The West Australian.
  17. ^ a b Mosconi, Cassidy (13 August 2026). "After a jury convicted disgraced Broome Bishop Christopher Saunders of horrific sex crimes, it can now be revealed the 76 year old was facing sex charges against child under the age of 13". Channel 7 News Perth.
  18. ^ Weber, David (13 August 2026). "Former Broome bishop Christopher Saunders guilty of sexually abusing young men". ABC News. Archived from the original on 13 August 2026. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  19. ^ a b Reason, Christopher (21 September 2026). "Former Bishop of Broome faces sentencing for sex crimes | 7NEWS". 7NEWS.
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