Christopher Saunders, the former bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Broome, Australia, was convicted on Aug. 13 of sexually abusing two young Aboriginal men between 2008 and 2017.
Saunders, who is 76 years old, led the northwest Australian diocese from 1996 until 2021 when he resigned. He was convicted of 13 charges, which included nonconsensual sexual penetration. He originally faced 26 charges, but seven were dropped and he was not found guilty for the other six.
Bishop Tim Norton of the Diocese of Broome published a pastoral letter to the faithful after his predecessor was convicted.
Norton thanked the police and the prosecutors "for their commitment to bringing this matter before a jury." He acknowledged "the courage of victims, survivors and other witnesses" who "showed extraordinary resilience and commitment through a long and difficult process."
"They deserved to be heard with compassion and treated with dignity," he said.
On behalf of the diocese, Norton apologized for "the hurt [the victims] have experienced," for "the shame they have endured," and "that it has taken so long for their voices to be heard and for their pain to be acknowledged." He said the diocese would "do all we can to reach out to them for hope and healing."
"We are acutely aware that the victims of this betrayal are not just those who have told their stories to police and before the court," Norton said.
"Trust has been broken and wounds of betrayal and division have been exposed across the diocese," he said. "The hurt extends to those who have placed their trust in our leadership and our Church. Many who have served their parishes and their communities selflessly have been left with difficult questions and unresolved feelings."
Norton said he is committed to ensuring that the diocese is "a place of safety, respect and accountability." He said leaders "will do all we can to create an environment of trust and openness" and will move to "ensure that people are treated with dignity and compassion and continue to seek authentic and peaceful relationships, even if we do not always agree with each other."
Norton said diocesan and parish staff can connect people to independent support services if any person requests support.
"We ask Our Lady Queen of Peace, the patroness of our diocese, to intercede for us and to accompany us on this journey of reconciliation, healing and hope," the bishop concluded.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), prosecutors said Saunders hosted "shirts off" gatherings with young men who would wear only boxer shorts. They said he supplied alcohol and food with church funds and would touch the men sexually and in at least one case engaged in oral sex without consent.
ABC reported that Saunders' defense lawyer acknowledged "boozy" and "sleazy" behavior, but they rejected claims of nonconsensual sexual activity. The former bishop maintained his innocence in the trial.
The initial charges accused Saunders of sexual activity with minors, but he was not convicted of any charges related to victims who were minors.
The Western Australia Police Force first investigated Saunders in 2018 but chose not to file any charges in 2021. The Vatican launched its own investigation in 2022 and submitted its findings to the police in 2023. The police reopened their investigation in 2023 and arrested him in 2024.
Although the Vatican did not release its findings to the public, it was leaked to Seven News in Australia, which reported that the investigation found Saunders likely sexually assaulted four youths and possibly groomed 67 others.
