By 
Christopher Saunders, the former bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Broome, Australia, was convicted on Aug. 13 of sexually abusing two young Aboriginal men between 2008 and 2017.
Saunders, who is 76 years old, led the northwest Australian diocese from 1996 until 2021 when he resigned. He was convicted of 13 charges, which included nonconsensual sexual penetration. He originally faced 26 charges, but seven were dropped and he was not found guilty for the other six.
Bishop Tim Norton of the Diocese of Broome published a pastoral letter to the faithful after his predecessor was convicted.
Norton thanked the police and the prosecutors “for their commitment to bringing this matter before a jury.” He acknowledged “the courage of victims, survivors and other witnesses” who “showed extraordinary resilience and commitment through a long and difficult process.”
“They deserved to be heard with compassion and treated with dignity,” he said.
On behalf of the diocese, Norton apologized for “the hurt [the victims] have experienced,” for “the shame they have endured,” and “that it has taken so long for their voices to be heard and for their pain to be acknowledged.” He said the diocese would “do all we can to reach out to them for hope and healing.”
“We are acutely aware that the victims of this betrayal are not just those who have told their stories to police and before the court,” Norton said.
“Trust has been broken and wounds of betrayal and division have been exposed across the diocese,” he said. “The hurt extends to those who have placed their trust in our leadership and our Church. Many who have served their parishes and their communities selflessly have been left with difficult questions and unresolved feelings.”
Norton said he is committed to ensuring that the diocese is “a place of safety, respect and accountability.” He said leaders “will do all we can to create an environment of trust and openness” and will move to “ensure that people are treated with dignity and compassion and continue to seek authentic and peaceful relationships, even if we do not always agree with each other.”
Norton said diocesan and parish staff can connect people to independent support services if any person requests support.
“We ask Our Lady Queen of Peace, the patroness of our diocese, to intercede for us and to accompany us on this journey of reconciliation, healing and hope,” the bishop concluded.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), prosecutors said Saunders hosted “shirts off” gatherings with young men who would wear only boxer shorts. They said he supplied alcohol and food with church funds and would touch the men sexually and in at least one case engaged in oral sex without consent.
ABC reported that Saunders’ defense lawyer acknowledged “boozy” and “sleazy” behavior, but they rejected claims of nonconsensual sexual activity. The former bishop maintained his innocence in the trial.
The initial charges accused Saunders of sexual activity with minors, but he was not convicted of any charges related to victims who were minors.
The Western Australia Police Force first investigated Saunders in 2018 but chose not to file any charges in 2021. The Vatican launched its own investigation in 2022 and submitted its findings to the police in 2023. The police reopened their investigation in 2023 and arrested him in 2024.
Although the Vatican did not release its findings to the public, it was leaked to Seven News in Australia, which reported that the investigation found Saunders likely sexually assaulted four youths and possibly groomed 67 others.
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I wonder when the Pope will publicly comment about this homosexual bishop. He has something to say about almost everything else.
Yes, the Pope’s silence and lack of action regarding the rampant pederasty and homosexuality in the CC (and other important matters like the persecution of Christians in China, and other places) is disheartening. He has publicly stated that matters of sexuality are not as important as social justice, equality, etc. Some critics have said that a “lavender mafia” in the Vatican controls things these days. But Holy Scripture and the Church Fathers are very clear and vocal on the matter:
Romans 1:26-27
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men[a]
10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
The excellent site Catholic Answers has posted numerous examples of the early Christian thinkers on the subject of homosexual relations, in answer to the moder Catholic Church claim that “loving” homosexual relations, and not just “lustful” relations are OK and can be blessed by priests. Here are a few, which today’s popes and cardinals and bishops and priests act against and probably would label as “hate speech”: https://www.catholic.com/tract/early-teachings-on-homosexuality
SAINT EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA
“[H]aving forbidden all unlawful marriage, and all unseemly practice, and the union of women with women and men with men, he [God] adds: ‘Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for in all these things the nations were defiled, which I will drive out before you. And the land was polluted, and I have recompensed [their] iniquity upon it, and the land is grieved with them that dwell upon it’ [Lev. 18:24–25]” (Proof of the Gospel 4:10 [A.D. 319]).
SAINT CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA
“All honor to that king of the Scythians, whoever Anacharsis was, who shot with an arrow one of his subjects who imitated among the Scythians the mystery of the mother of the gods . . . condemning him as having become effeminate among the Greeks, and a teacher of the disease of effeminacy to the rest of the Scythians” (Exhortation to the Greeks 2 [A.D. 190]).
SAINT BASI THE GREAT
“He who is guilty of unseemliness with males will be under discipline for the same time as adulterers” (Letters 217:62 [A.D. 367]).
SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
“[Certain men in church] come in gazing about at the beauty of women; others curious about the blooming youth of boys. After this, do you not marvel that [lightning] bolts are not launched [from heaven], and all these things are not plucked up from their foundations? For worthy both of thunderbolts and hell are the things that are done; but God, who is long-suffering, and of great mercy, forbears awhile his wrath, calling you to repentance and amendment” (Homilies on Matthew 3:3 [A.D. 391]).
“All of these affections [in Rom. 1:26–27] . . . were vile, but chiefly the mad lust after males; for the soul is more the sufferer in sins, and more dishonored than the body in diseases” (Homilies on Romans 4 [A.D. 391]).
“[The men] have done an insult to nature itself. And a yet more disgraceful thing than these is it, when even the women seek after these intercourses, who ought to have more shame than men” (ibid.).
SAINT AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO
“[T]hose shameful acts against nature, such as were committed in Sodom, ought everywhere and always to be detested and punished. If all nations were to do such things, they would be held guilty of the same crime by the law of God, which has not made men so that they should use one another in this way” (Confessions 3:8:15 [A.D. 400]).
TERTULLIAN
“[A]ll other frenzies of the lusts which exceed the laws of nature, and are impious toward both [human] bodies and the sexes, we banish, not only from the threshold but also from all shelter of the Church, for they are not sins so much as monstrosities” (Modesty 4 [A.D. 220]).
SAINT JUSTIN MARTYR (the first recognized philosopher of the Christian era)
“[W]e have been taught that to expose newly-born children is the part of wicked men; and this we have been taught lest we should do anyone harm and lest we should sin against God, first, because we see that almost all so exposed (not only the girls, but also the males) are brought up to prostitution. And for this pollution a multitude of females and hermaphrodites, and those who commit unmentionable iniquities, are found in every nation. And you receive the hire of these, and duty and taxes from them, whom you ought to exterminate from your realm. . . . And there are some who prostitute even their own children and wives, and some are openly mutilated for the purpose of sodomy; and they refer these mysteries to the mother of the gods” (First Apology 27 [A.D. 151]).
THE DIDACHE
“You shall not commit murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not commit pederasty, you shall not commit fornication, you shall not steal, you shall not practice magic, you shall not practice witchcraft, you shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill one that has been born” (Didache 2:2 [A.D. 70]
At long last: the shocking truth [or part of it] is affirmed by our justice system.
Praise GOD!
How should Catholics pray:
1. Asking for our forgiveness, since we are all a corporate body that enabled this.
2. Asking for healing and restitution for all those abused in body, mind, and soul.
3. Asking that the perpetrator make a clean-breast of it ALL, in saving repentance.
Everyone: please feel free to add your prayers.
It might be worth repeating a comment from CWR 07.22.2026 –
“We need to ban use of ‘pedophilia’ because there is zero ‘philia’ (love) in what is hellish clerical exploitive *sexual molestation* of naive, vulnerable youths & children.
In 2014, I was invited to present a paper at a conference on Star Island, New Hampshire. A Jesuit priest theolgian/scientist was also there: Fr Javier Leach Albert SJ. I’d hoped to have his critique of my science/theology work on the ‘Ethical Encounter Theology’ worldview.
Shockingly: Fr Javier preferred to talk about the joys of pubescent young men, who he said appeared to him as beautiful young girls. He was excited to be going to stay with the Chicago Jesuits after the conference. He left no doubt in my mind that his excitement was not about theology or science but about the perverted sexual experiences he expected to enjoy in Chicago.
Charitably: it may be that Fr Javier L. Albert SJ had simply lost his mind.
Even so: the feeling remains that he may have represented the contemporary state of ethical decay among many Jesuits.
Pope Francis’ embracing of pornographers; Fr Marko Rupnik’s numerous sexual exploitations of holy sisters; and Fr James Martin’s flagrant embracings of sodomy have done nothing to lesson that perception.”
Unlike the external rot of The Reformation; the rot of Lechery is within The Church.
Saint Peter Damian, please pray for us.
I don’t know Greek, but online translations seem to favor iniuria
Pedoiniuria?
Thanks ‘TPR’. ‘Pedoiniuria’ sounds like a useful, inclusive, academic descriptor.
In practice, lecherous clergy seem stung if identified as, e.g.: ‘criminal clerical child molesters’.
They also hate reminding of Matthew 18:6; blanching at the mention of ‘millstone sins’!
Fr Bernard Joseph Gallagher (now retired thank goodness) became infuriated!
Yet, by reminding clergy are we not loving their souls more than they do themselves, by calling them to Apostolic-authenticity, remorse, repentance, and a shriving unto salvation.
But, they’d probably say lay Catholics aren’t supposed to do that . . ?
Fr Bernie once shared with us that laissezfaire sinning is a free, personal choice just like running-up an overdraft at the bank; to be paid-off when we die.
We all refrained from asking him if that is not an anti-Apostolic teaching.
One can only go so far.
So, yeah, we have another one. Another horrible disgraced cleric, another bishop. Non-stop since, when? It never seems to end with these guys, ever.
Drumroll please, enter Fr Marko Rupnik, abuser of young Sisters, TYVM.
It’s likely he will walk free, after all this time and secrecy.
Lavender rules, dear pew sitters. Bet on it.
You are so correct. It is this garbage which is the reason why so many Catholics no longer respect the teaching authority of the bishops and the institution itself. May God save us.
Yawn. Soft words and actions in the face of evil. Where are the men in this church?
Attention “hierarchy”: If you want less of this, the clerics involved need to be executed, and you need to stop admitting homosexuals to the priesthood.
Oh, and another thing: Stop apologizing unless you had something to do with it or looked the other way. And don’t you EVER apologize on behalf of the other Catholics, because we are not responsible in any way.
“The Vatican did not release its findings to the public.”
Tells me everything I need to know. Nothing has changed. Absolutely nothing. Churchmen are rotten to the core starting with Prevost. They still hide and support predators. Where’s the promised transparency?
The bubble burst long ago, that the sex crimes in the church were done long ago. They still go on. What are these guys thinking? There are the offenders themselves, the bishops who protect the offenders, the other priests or bishops who have direct knowledge of the offence(s), and the upper level hierarchy who drag their feet “studying” the problem. This has been an international problem and scandal for the church. Sunday Mass is the indoctrination, the mind control, to minimize these problems in the Church. We hear “oh, things were much worse in the history of the church.” Baloney. so what? That doesn’t mean we have to swallow what these morons are doing.
“Bishop Christopher Saunders convicted on multiple counts of sexual abuse”. Is he serving time in a secular prison? Why the softer word “abuse”? It’s RAPE, stupid! Seems like the current vetting of new candidates is time worn.
Pray that the church fathers shape an obvious method needing updating.
Agreed, dear R R Luczak.
Yet: if our cardinals, bishops, & other clergy WERE morons, these scandalous clerical abominations would be less reprehensible.
But: they are actually carfully-picked men of intellect & ability, given an enormously expensive education & training; plus tremendous privileges & assistance in both their working and living situations.
For example: check-out our cardinals’ worldly luxurious living conditions in Rome.
These entitlements & privileges are a major factor in the hubris that births abuses.
Saint James warned: “You are as unfaithful as adulterous wives; don’t you realize that making the world your friend is making GOD your enemy?” [James 4:4]
Saint John expands: “You must not love this passing world or anything that is in the world. The love of The FATHER can not be in any man who loves the world. [1 John 2:15]. In contrast:
“The Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” [Matthew 8:20]
“I (Saint Paul) have worked & labored, often without sleep; I have been hungry & thirsty & often starving; I have been in the cold without clothes.” [2 Corinthians 11:27]
It seems that too many of our clergy are friends of the world & enemies of GOD. Cherished by and cherishing the world they disqualify themselves from leadership.
Ever in the love of The Lamb of GOD; blessings to all from marty
From OSV News, By J. A. Esteves, 08.14.26
(OSV News) — An Australian district court found Bishop Christopher Saunders guilty of committing over a dozen counts of sexual abuse against three young Aboriginal men.
According to Australian public broadcaster ABC, Bishop Saunders, 76, was convicted Aug. 13 of one count of sexual penetration and 12 counts of indecent assault that were committed while he led the Diocese of Broome.
However, he was found not guilty of six other abuse-related charges.
According to ABC, the victims were part of the Indigenous Aboriginal community residing in the region of Western Australia known as the Kimberley. Prosecutors said that the abuses occurred in several areas, including the bishop’s residence in Broome and a beach house.
He stepped away from administrative duties when the accusations first surfaced and resigned in 2021. During the trial, the bishop’s lawyer, Tony Hager, dismissed the accusations against his client, describing Bishop Saunder’s behavior as “boozy” and “sleazy” but not criminal.
ABC reported that Hager also told the jury that the bishop “wasn’t on trial in Rome” nor “standing before the pope” to justify his pastoral care of the diocese. He also cast doubt on the accusations against the bishop, suggesting that the victims’ memories were affected by alcohol.
Bishop Saunders is expected to return to court Sept. 21 to face sentencing, ABC reported.
According to a 2022 statement published by the Australian bishops’ conference, the Vatican opened a canonical investigation into the allegations against Bishop Saunders that year and appointed retired Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane to oversee the process.
Archbishop Coleridge, the statement noted, issued a decree “stipulating that Bishop Saunders is to reside outside the Diocese of Broome for the duration of the investigation.”
A year later, in September 2023, the conference issued a clarification regarding the investigation, including the revelation that “Bishop Saunders refused to leave the diocese and chose not to participate in the Church’s investigation within the deadline of six months initially stipulated by the Vatican.”
“The investigation by the Church included both alleged canonical crimes, as defined by ‘Vos Estis Lux Mundi,’ and alleged breaches of the Church’s Integrity in Ministry protocols,” the conference said.
Published in 2019 and updated in 2023, “Vos Estis Lux Mundi” (“You Are the Light of the World”) outlines the Catholic Church’s procedures for investigating allegations of sexual abuse or the cover-up of abuse.
According to the conference, the Church’s investigation was suspended during the police’s investigation and during the trial.
Following the guilty verdict, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe of Perth, president of the Australian Bishops’ Conference, issued a statement saying that the abuses committed by Bishop Saunders “represent a betrayal of everything the gospel and the Catholic Church stand for.”
“They are a violation of the human dignity of victims and survivors and a complete betrayal of their trust: these crimes deserve the strongest condemnation,” Archbishop Costelloe wrote.
He also commended the bravery of the survivors and witnesses who came forward, showing “great courage, commitment and resilience through a long and difficult process.”
“The Catholic community in Broome, and more widely in Western Australia and the rest of our nation, owes them a great debt of gratitude,” he wrote. “While the horrors of abuse occur in secret, it is the courage of those who bring these horrors into the open which enables accountability and, through that accountability, the beginning of healing.”
Regarding the canonical investigation against Bishop Saunders, Archbishop Costelloe said that with the conclusion of the trial, “the Church’s investigation can now recommence.”
“Decisions about the position of the former bishop of Broome in the Church will therefore be determined by Rome,” he wrote.
Addressing the pauses to the canonical investigation, the archbishop of Perth said the temporary suspension while “formal police inquiries” were taking place was necessary to avoid “any possibility of Church actions interfering with or compromising the integrity of the police investigations.”
Calling the failures of the Church in Australia “distressing, demoralizing and humbling,” Archbishop Costelloe said the Church “must never think that the sexual abuse crisis is somehow behind us.”
“We must never relax our vigilance or lower our expectations in relation to safeguarding. There is still much to do,” he said.
Bishop Tim Norton, who was appointed to lead the Diocese of Broome by Pope Francis in 2024, acknowledged the verdict and apologized to survivors for the pain they endured and “that it has taken so long for their voices to be heard and for their pain to be acknowledged.”
In a pastoral letter published Aug. 13, Bishop Norton also recognized the sense of betrayal felt across the diocese by “those who have placed their trust in our leadership and our Church.”
“How could such a proud, caring and determined diocese that features such remarkable communities and people be home to such a betrayal of trust? How could our diocesan leadership be involved in such heartless events?” he asked.
Bishop Norton said the response to those questions was a renewed commitment to safeguarding and accountability, and pledged to create “an environment of trust and openness.”
“Over the coming months, I will visit many parts of our diocese,” the bishop said. “This will be a time of grieving, listening and walking together on a synodal journey into a compassionate next stage for our diocese. I encourage you to raise any concerns or comments that can help during this period of healing.”
Satans’s biggest conquest is to own all clergy and control them into hell. Hell is forever.
How can the clergy be made aware of the influence of this horrible evil every moment ?? Only if they pray continuously can they stay close to their vocation. We need to pray for our Priests every day. They are human beings and need so much courage and Divine Help. Our Lady loves our Priests so the Rosary is of prime importance. They obviously do not realise ho they hurt all of us when they stray not only their victims.