Sexual violence against indigenous youth: Former Australian bishop arrested The war is going badly for Ukraine – these five points still give hope

As part of the abuse investigation against former Australian bishop Christopher Saunders, which has been ongoing for years, police have arrested the pastor. The 74-year-old was taken from his home in Western Australia state on Wednesday, the Australian edition of The Guardian reported on Thursday, citing police. Saunders was charged with several counts, including “two counts of sexual penetration without consent, 14 counts of unlawful and indecent assault and three counts of indecent contact with a child 16 to 18 years of age as a person in authority,” authorities said. .

Police had already investigated Saunders in 2018 and 2020, who was then still bishop of Broome, a diocese in the outback of northwest Australia. However, due to a lack of evidence, the public prosecutor did not press charges at the time. The Vatican then launched its own internal 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.

The Australian Bishops’ Conference pledged to cooperate with authorities. The allegations were “very serious and deeply disturbing,” the report said. A request by the pastor to be released on bail was rejected, police said. Saunders was scheduled to appear in court in Broome on Thursday. (sda/dpa)