Christopher Saunders: Former Australian bishop jailed for sexually abusing males

Former Australian bishop Christopher Saunders has been jailed for sexually abusing two younger Aboriginal males throughout his time as a Catholic cleric.

Saunders – who resigned as Bishop of Broome when first accused of wrongdoing in 2020 – was discovered responsible of 1 cost of rape and 12 counts of indecent assault.

The 76-year-old was sentenced to 6 and a half years’ imprisonment, however will likely be eligible for launch on parole in February 2031.

He is likely one of the most senior Catholic leaders on this planet to face fees of this nature.

His trial within the state of Western Australia heard Saunders systematically groomed the 2 younger males, inviting them to “shirts-off” gatherings and plying them with alcohol, usually utilizing church funds and church-owned properties to take action.

He was convicted of kissing and molesting the lads, and in a single occasion forcing oral intercourse on one in every of them.

In a sufferer influence assertion offered to the courtroom, that younger man stated he struggled to speak about what occurred.

“I used to be a toy that he was utilizing,” the sufferer stated.

“My head is pounding now, I am in a lot ache.”

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