Crime & Justice
Former Australian bishop jailed for sexually abusing two Aboriginal men
October 7, 2026 at 05:31 AM
Coverage
3 reports · over 8 hours
CNCNN
Former Australian Catholic bishop sentenced for abusing Indigenous men
(opens the publisher’s site)
TGThe Guardian
Former bishop sentenced to more than six years in prison for sexually abusing young Aboriginal men
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
Christopher Saunders: Former Australian bishop jailed for sexually abusing men
(opens the publisher’s site)Former Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders, 76, was sentenced on Wednesday to six and a half years' imprisonment for sexually abusing two young Aboriginal men.
- A West Australian jury convicted Saunders of sexual penetration without consent and 12 indecent assault charges for offending between 2008 and 2019.
- The sentence, backdated to August, makes Saunders eligible for parole after four and a half years.
- Prosecutor Adam Ebell stated Saunders held alcohol-fueled parties at church-owned properties to access Aboriginal men and assault them.
- Archbishop Timothy Costelloe said a suspended church probe will restart and inform decisions in Rome about Saunders' church position.