Who is Christopher Saunders? Former Australian Bishop Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Prison for Offences Against Young Men

This afternoon, Christopher Saunders, the former Bishop of Broome was handed a six and a half year prison sentence for allegedly abusing young men. Saunders, who used to be one of Australia’s most high profile catholic bishops was originally accused of offences against three young men but was only found guilty of charges related to two of them. 

Australia Sexual Abuse Scandal: Christopher Saunders Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Prison

Christopher Alan Saunders, a former Catholic bishop in Australia, has been given a prison term of six years and six months for the sexual abuse of two young Aboriginal men in Western Australia.

In August, a jury at the District Court of Western Australia found Saunders, 76, guilty of 13 sexual offences, among them one count of sexual penetration without consent and 12 counts of unlawful and indecent assault.

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Who is Christopher Saunders? 

Christopher Alan Saunders is an Australian Catholic bishop emeritus who held the position of Bishop of Broome in Western Australia for roughly 25 years.

Saunders, whose birthplace is Australia, was ordained a Catholic priest in 1976. In 1996 he was named the second Bishop of Broome, and he remained in that position until Pope Francis accepted his resignation in 2021. While serving as bishop, he ranked among Australia’s most senior Catholic clerics and held office for one of the longest terms. 

The diocese is made up of nine parishes and 13 schools, according to publicly available records in the Western Australia province. He was forced to resign from the church in the wake of the shocking sexual abuse allegations.