Australia’s Most Senior Catholic Bishop Arrested at Home for Sexual Abuse

A prosecution and arrest have been made against the former Bishop of Broome for alleged previous sexual offenses.

Christopher Alan Saunders, 74, was taken into custody at his residence on Piggott Way in Western Australia on Wednesday afternoon, as per Daily Mail.

Senior Australian Bishop Arrested

(Photo : VINCENZO PINTO/AFP via Getty Images)
Bishops pray in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican during Pope Benedict XVI 's weekly general audience on October 28, 2009 .

A 74-year-old Catholic bishop, one of the highest-ranking in the Australian Catholic Church, was arrested in Broome after police and the Pope conducted concurrent investigations. Bishop Saunders has strongly disputed the claims that led to his imprisonment. He was denied bail and will face 19 accusations, including two counts of rape, 14 of illegal and sexual assault, and three of indecently engaging with a minor in authority.

Mr. Saunders, who was first ordained in 1976 and served as the Bishop of Broome since 1996, holds a significant position within the Catholic hierarchy. His arrest marks a rare instance of a senior Catholic figure facing such serious charges.

Several Aboriginal males from his parish have accused Mr. Saunders of 2008 sexual assault. In 2020, police investigated these complaints but concluded no reason for charges. In 2020, Mr. Saunders resigned as Bishop of Broome but stayed an emeritus bishop.

A Vatican-ordered Vos Estis Lux Mundi investigation changed the case. Pope-commissioned inquiries into Catholic Church sexual abuse are rare globally. Only the Pope may nominate or defrock a bishop, hence Vos Estis investigations are important.

The leaked sections of the 200-page Vatican report, which became public last year, not only detailed the alleged sexual abuse but also contained claims that Mr. Saunders maintained a stash of guns and cash on church property. This leak sparked a renewed effort by investigators, leading to the current arrest, according to BBC News.

Controversial Vatican Report on Australian Bishop

The full Vatican report, criticized for its lack of speed and transparency, was handed to WA Police for their ongoing investigation but has not been publicly disclosed. The allegations outlined in the leaked report include sexual assault against four teenagers and young men, as well as potential grooming of another 67 individuals.

Despite the allegations, WA Police found insufficient evidence to press criminal charges related to at least one victim from the Kimberly region between 2018 and 2020. Mr. Saunders officially resigned from his duties in August 2021 but retains the title of Emeritus Bishop of Broome.

Concerns about Mr. Saunders' continued involvement in charitable activities surfaced when it was revealed that he was listed as the "responsible person" for nine charities associated with his former diocese. One charity, the Kimberley Native Mission Fund, lacked auditing records in its accounts, raising questions about financial transparency.

The Vatican report that was leaked also identified Mr. Saunders' excessive spending, which included large sums of money on alcohol, cigarettes, bus fares, and airfares. In January, the police conducted a search at Mr. Saunders' home as part of their continuing investigation.

The happenings in this case indicate a thorough and extensive investigation into past accusations against a well-known Catholic figure in Australia, highlighting major problems regarding transparency and accountability in the Church, Sky News reported.