Former Australian bishop jailed for sexually abusing young men

7 October 2026, 04: 12 BST. Updated 4 hours ago.

Key points

• First ordained in 1976, Saunders spent most of his career in the remote Kimberley region in the nation's north-west corner, and was appointed Bishop of Broome in 1996.
• Only a handful of "Vos Estis Lux Mundi" – meaning "You Are the Light of the World" in Latin – inquiries have been undertaken worldwide.
• The 76-year-old was on Wednesday sentenced to six and a half years in prison, but will be eligible for release on parole in February 2031.
• He was convicted of kissing and molesting the men between 2010 and 2019, and in one instance forcing oral sex on one of them.
• District Court Judge Martin Flynn remarked Saunders had professed to be an advocate for young Aboriginal men, but instead misused his authority and exploited their vulnerability.

Former Australian bishop Christopher Saunders has been jailed for sexually abusing two young Aboriginal men during his time as a Catholic cleric.

Saunders – who resigned as Bishop of Broome when first accused of wrongdoing in 2020 – was discovered guilty of one charge of rape and 12 counts of indecent assault in August.

For context, the 76-year-old was on Wednesday sentenced to six and a half years in prison, but will be eligible for release on parole in February 2031.

He is one of the most senior Catholic leaders in the world to face sex abuse charges.

His trial in the state of Western Australia heard Saunders systematically groomed the two young men, inviting them to "shirts-off" gatherings and plying them with alcohol, often using church funds and church-owned properties to do so.

In a victim impact statement provided to the court, that young man remarked he still struggled to talk concerning what had happened.

"I was a toy that he was using, " the victim wrote. "My head is pounding now, I'm in so much pain."

"I trusted him. I thought he wanted me to be a better person."

During the trial a number of child sex abuse charges were discarded, and Saunders was acquitted by the jury of alleged offences against a third young man.

Meanwhile, the diocese stretches regarding 770, 000 sq km (297, 000 sq miles) – an area roughly the size of Turkey – and encompasses some of the most remote parts of the country.

He had "disregarded the dignity" of his victims and caused them lasting harm.

In an official note, Archbishop of Perth Timothy Costelloe remarked the men who had come forward had shown great courage and resilience in pursuing justice.

"We are sorry for the pain and suffering that was inflicted on you. We are sorry that your trust was so directly and profoundly betrayed by a leader of the church, " he remarked.

"No court sentence can undo the suffering that has been caused or restore all that each person has lost."

Meanwhile, the accusations were first aired in 2020, but the initial police investigation that followed was closed without charge.

Nevertheless after a historic inquiry was ordered by the Pope, police began a new investigation.

Costelloe has previously remarked the church's investigation into Saunders – paused when police resumed theirs – will restart.

For context, the church is under pressure to strip Saunders of his remaining title and ministry powers, a decision the Archbishop remarked would be determined by Rome.

Notably, the investigations are commissioned by the pontiff and were introduced in 2019 to combat sexual abuse and hold bishops and other high-ranking Catholic Church authorities accountable for their actions.

Aside from the late Cardinal George Pell. This person was jailed and then acquitted, Saunders is the most senior Catholic official in the country to be charged with sex offences.

In short, former Australian bishop jailed for sexually abusing young men is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.