Bishop Saunders has been under scrutiny since 2020 for allegations of sexual abuses against vulnerable individuals. He is also accused of using thousands of dollars to lavish young people with trips, gifts, money, and alcohol.
Newsroom 23/02/2024 Gaudium Press) On February 21, Australian authorities arrested Emeritus Bishop of Broome, Christopher Saunders, at his residence, marking a significant development in a case that has been unfolding since 2020. The Bishop, aged 74, faces accusations related to 19 sexual offenses, according to ABC News. The specifics behind the arrest have not been disclosed by the police, but it was conducted by officers from the Western Australia child abuse squad.
Bishop Saunders has been under scrutiny since 2020 for allegations of sexual abuses against vulnerable individuals. He is also accused of using thousands of dollars to lavish young people with trips, gifts, money, and alcohol.
In 2021, a police investigation into the allegations was concluded due to a lack of evidence. However, the case took a turn in 2022 when a canonical investigation was initiated to probe the alleged canonical abuses by the prelate. Last year, a report spanning approximately 200 pages was submitted to local authorities detailing sexually inappropriate conduct by Saunders towards adults.
A document prepared at the request of the Australian Episcopal Conference painted Saunders as a “sexual predator” who targeted young and vulnerable men. This report was also forwarded to the Holy See and the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in September 2023.
Following these allegations, in 2020, Saunders tendered his resignation from the administration of the Diocese of Broome. Despite the canonical investigations and the Holy See’s directive for the Emeritus Bishop to not reside within the diocese, he continued living in a church-owned property in Broome.
Until last year, Bishop Christopher Saunders has denied the allegations, proclaiming his innocence regarding the crimes attributed to him. The ecclesiastical authorities in Australia have expressed their commitment to continue cooperating with the police investigation into the accusations against Saunders.
This rewrite aims to provide a concise and SEO-optimized summary of the arrest and ongoing investigations surrounding Emeritus Bishop Christopher Saunders, highlighting the key developments and responses from both secular and ecclesiastical authorities.
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
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