Australian former bishop Christopher Saunders convicted on multiple counts of sexual abuse

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…