Christopher Saunders
Christopher Saunders | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Broome | |
| Church | |
| Diocese | Broome |
| Appointed | 3 November 1995 |
| Term ended | 21 August 2021 |
| Predecessor | John Jobst |
| Successor | Tim Norton |
| Other post | Bishop emeritus of Broome (2021–present) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 28 August 1976 by John Jobst |
| Consecration | 8 February 1996 by John Jobst, Justin Bianchini, Edmund Collins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Christopher Alan Saunders 15 January 1950 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Education | Saint Paul University |
| 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. He has subsequently been convicted of sexual offences against two men on 13 August 2024, taken into custody and is currently awaiting sentencing by Perth District Court. [1]
Life and career
[edit source]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.[2]
Saunders was named bishop of Broome, Australia, on 3 November 1995 and consecrated a bishop on 8 February 1996.[citation needed]
Investigation into sex offenses
[edit source]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.[citation needed]
Stepping down
[edit source]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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6] On 27 November 2020, Saunders agreed to take a six-months leave "outside the Diocese",[7] where his continued performance in public as a priest has provoked complaints.[6]
In May 2021, government officials decided not to file criminal charges.[5] Pope Francis accepted his resignation as Bishop of Broome on 28 August 2021.[8][9]
Vos estis lux mundi inquiry
[edit source]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.[10]
Arrest
[edit source]On 21 February 2024, Saunders was arrested at his home in Broome by police and charged for 19 offences, including rape, with some of the charges for acts he was alleged to have committed against children. The charges dated back to 2008 and his arrest followed years of sex abuse denials by Saunders.[11][12]
In August 2026, 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.[13]
Notes
[edit source]References
[edit source]- ↑ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-13/former-broome-bishop-christopher-saunders-guilty-sex-offences/107029324
- ↑ "Bishop Christopher Saunders". Diocese of Broome. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
- ↑ "Bringing Down a Bishop: The Sins of Christopher Saunders". 7NEWS Spotlight. 15 March 2024 – via YouTube.
- ↑ 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.
- 1 2 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.
- 1 2 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Resignations and Appointments, 28.08.2021" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Australian bishop Christopher Saunders charged with rape". BBC News. 21 February 2024. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ↑ 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.
External links
[edit source]
Quotations related to Christopher Alan Saunders at Wikiquote
Media related to Christopher Saunders at Wikimedia Commons
- 1950 births
- Living people
- Religious leaders from Melbourne
- 21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in Australia
- 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Australia
- Catholic Church sexual abuse scandals in Australia
- Australian expatriates in Canada
- Australian prisoners and detainees
- Prisoners and detainees of Western Australia
- Roman Catholic bishops of Broome
- People educated at St Bede's College (Mentone)
- Saint Paul University alumni