The former Bishop of Broome Christopher Alan Saunders has been found guilty of sexually abusing young Aboriginal men, prompting the diocese to apologise to victims and acknowledge a wider “betrayal of trust” across the Kimberley.
Saunders, 76, had been on trial for more than three weeks in the District Court of Western Australia in Perth. He was accused of sex offences against three young men while he was Bishop of Broome, a remote diocese covering the Kimberley region. On 13 August, the jury found him guilty of abusing two of the men.
In a pastoral letter following the verdict, current Broome Bishop Tim Norton SVD acknowledged the “courage of victims, survivors and other witnesses” who came forward.
“They deserved to be heard with compassion and treated with dignity,” Bishop Norton wrote.
“We are deeply sorry for the hurt they have experienced. We are sorry for the shame they have endured. We are sorry that it has taken so long for their voices to be heard and for their pain to be acknowledged.”
Bishop Norton also thanked Western Australia Police and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for their work. He acknowledged that the damage extended beyond those who gave evidence against Saunders.
“Trust has been broken and wounds of betrayal and division have been exposed across the diocese,” he wrote.
“The hurt extends to those who have placed their trust in our leadership and our church.”
The victims were young Aboriginal men living in the Kimberley, where Indigenous people make up more than 40 per cent of the population.
Outside court, defence lawyer David Manera told reporters Saunders appeared to be “deeply affected” by the verdicts and said he had not yet discussed a possible appeal with him, the ABC reported.
Bishop Norton said the verdict raised painful questions for Catholics across the Kimberley about how such a betrayal could have occurred within the diocese and its leadership.
“How could such a proud, caring and determined diocese that features such remarkable communities and people be home to such a betrayal of trust?” he wrote.
“How could our diocesan leadership be involved in such heartless events?”
He said the diocese would respond with a renewed commitment to ensuring the church was “a place of safety, respect and accountability”.
Over coming months, Bishop Norton said he would visit communities for “a time of grieving, listening and walking together on a synodal journey into a compassionate next stage for our diocese”.
He encouraged people to raise concerns during the period of healing and said diocesan and parish staff could connect those affected by the verdict and trial with independent support services.
Saunders remains in custody and will face a sentencing hearing in September.
