(AUSTRALIA)
Australian Broadcasting Corporation - ABC [Sydney, Australia]
October 7, 2026
By Erin Parke
Bishop sentenced to 6.5 years in prison – ABC listen
Rachel Mealey: A prison sentence handed down to Catholic Bishop Christopher Saunders for sexually abusing two young men has been met with relief but also fury. International advocates have slammed the Vatican’s handling of the case, saying it exposes dangerous flaws the church has repeatedly promised to fix. Erin Parke reports from Broome.
Christopher Saunders: Isn’t that a wonderful piece of theology?
Erin Parke: For almost 50 years, Christopher Saunders was a formidable presence in the remote Kimberley region.
Christopher Saunders: Believing in Jesus Christ and living a life according to Jesus Christ can set us free.
Erin Parke: As a priest and then bishop based in Broome since 1976, Saunders officiated the baptisms, marriages and funerals of generations of local families. His humour and love of a drink and a smoke endeared him to wealthy business owners in Broome and remote Aboriginal mission residents alike. But the illusion of clerical care was shattered six years ago when WA police confirmed they were investigating sexual assault allegations. Yesterday Saunders was sentenced in the Perth District Court to six and a half years in prison for the sexual assault of two men. But campaigners against sexual abuse in the church say the case is far from resolved.
Anne Barrett Doyle: The church has failed victims in the case of Bishop Saunders and it’s really discouraging that this is happening in 2026.
Erin Parke: From her home in the US city of Boston, Anne Barrett Doyle, a practicing Catholic, helps run the organisation Bishop Accountability, which tracks accusations of abuse and misconduct globally.
Anne Barrett Doyle: It is absolutely chilling that he preyed upon a vulnerable population where the power differential was so huge.
Erin Parke: Her main concerns? The church authorities allowed Christopher Saunders to continue socialising and camping with young people for several years after allegations were made, and that he remains a Bishop Emeritus, even after the criminal conviction.
Anne Barrett Doyle: You would think it would be a slam dunk that any Bishop would be automatically removed, but we have tracked 168 Bishops who’ve been accused of sexually abusing either adults or children, and of those only eight have been laicised. What does it take?
Erin Parke: The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference did not respond to questions put by the ABC, but said in a statement it praised the courage of Saunders’ victims, writing, For now, Kimberley communities are focused on healing. Saunders will be eligible for parole in February 2031. It’s not yet known if he’ll lodge an appeal.
Rachel Mealey: Erin Parke, and if you’ve experienced childhood trauma or abuse, you can call the Blue Knot helpline on 1300 657 380.
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A prison sentence handed down to Catholic Bishop Christopher Saunders for sexually abusing two young men in Western Australia has been met with relief, but also fury.
More Information
Featured:
Christopher Saunders, former Catholic Bishop of Broome
Anne Barrett Doyle, Bishop Accountability,
Gordon Marshall, Karajarri man in north Western Australia