Christopher Saunders faces two counts of rape and 14 counts of unlawful and indecent assault.
Former Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders faces serious charges of rape and historical sexual offences, including some against children, the BBC reported.
The 74-year-old Australian bishop was arrested in Broome following parallel investigations launched by Western Australian police and the Pope.
Saunders, one of the most senior Catholic clerics in Australia, faces two counts of rape, 14 counts of unlawful and indecent assault and three counts of indecent treatment of a child as a person in authority. The alleged incidents occurred in the remote Western Australian towns of Broome, Kununurra and the Aboriginal community of Kalumburu between 2008 and 2014.
Released on bail and ordered to remain at home until his next hearing in June, Saunders intends to plead not guilty to all charges. His case marks a significant development, as he becomes one of the highest-ranking Catholic officials in the country to face charges of sex crimes against minors, along with the late Cardinal George Pell.
The Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference issued a statement expressing its co-operation with police and acknowledging the seriousness of the charges against Saunders, calling them “very serious and deeply distressing”. The Archbishop of Perth, Timothy Costelloe, highlighted the need for thorough investigations.
Saunders, ordained in 1976, spent most of his career in the remote Kimberley region and served as Bishop of Broome from 1996. Known for his advocacy, socializing and leadership work within the community, allegations emerged in 2020 , which led to his voluntary resignation in the same year.
However, a new investigation was launched following a historic investigation ordered by the Pope, following the Vos Estis Lux Mundi protocol introduced in 2019 to combat sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.
