Serious allegations against clergy: Australian bishop accused of rape

class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”>

Whirlpool in Australia! Bishop Emeritus Christopher Alan Saunders (74) was taken from his home in Western Australia on Wednesday evening. The reason: Saunders was charged with several charges, including “two counts of sexual penetration without consent, 14 counts of unlawful and indecent assault and three counts of indecent contact with a child between the ages of 16 and 18 as a person in authority.” as the authorities announced. Saunders is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.

The president of the Australian Bishops’ Conference, Timothy Costelloe, spoke of “very disturbing” allegations.

According to court documents, the alleged crimes took place between 2008 and 2014. Saunders led the diocese of Broome, a coastal area in the northwest of the country, for more than 20 years. He resigned in 2020 when allegations of sexual abuse first became public.

Allegation of sexual assault against Indigenous youth

Police investigation initially revealed insufficient evidence to charge Saunders, who has denied the allegations to this day. Due to continued reports of Saunders’ misconduct, the Vatican launched its own investigation in 2022, the results of which it shared with police. They then resume their own investigation.

Last September, the Holy See sent a 200-page report to Australian police saying Saunders was believed to have committed four sexual assaults on indigenous youth and may have solicited an additional 687 youth and men. The accusations relate to the year 2008 and the period thereafter.

After his ordination, Saunders initially worked at missions in the outback regions since the 1970s. In 1995 he was appointed Bishop of Broome by Pope John Paul II. In the wake of the abuse allegations, he initially left this office under suspension in 2020. In August 2021, Pope Francis accepted his resignation. The priest has always denied the accusations. (SDA)

Source: Blick