Christopher Saunders

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The Most Reverend

Christopher Saunders
Bishop of Broome
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
DioceseBroome
SeeBroome
Appointed3 November 1995
PredecessorJohn Jobst
Orders
Ordination28 August 1976
by John Jobst
Consecration8 February 1996
by John Jobst
Personal details
Birth nameChristopher Alan Saunders
Born (1950-01-15) 15 January 1950 (age 71)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Alma materSaint Paul University
Coat of armsChristopher Saunders's coat of arms

Christopher Alan Saunders (born 15 January 1950) is an Australian prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the bishop of Broome from 1996 to 2021, when he resigned amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

Biography[]

Christopher Saunders was born on 15 January 1960. He studied at St. Bede’s College in Mentone, Victoria, and then studied philosophy for three years with the Columbians. Having developed an interest in aboriginal affairs, he was accepted by the Diocese of Broome and continued his studies in theology at St Francis Xavier Seminary in Adelaide. He worked as a deacon in Broome in 1975 and was ordained a priest of that diocese on 28 August 1976. His assignments took him to La Grange Mission (1976–1978), Lombadina Mission (1978–1982), and Kalumburu Mission (1982–1988). From 1989 to 1995 he was administrator of Broome, interrupted by two years of study for a licentiate in canon law at St. Paul's Pontifical University in Ottawa, Canada.[1]

Saunders was named bishop of the Broome, Australia, on 3 November 1995, and consecrated a bishop on 8 February 1996.

On 9 March 2020, Saunders voluntarily stood aside from the administration of the diocese after the Vatican ordered a review of the diocese. Church authorities did not indicate any connection between that investigation and the news that Western Australian Police had been investigating an allegation made of sexual misconduct made against him 18 months earlier.[2] Peter Ingham, Bishop emeritus of Wollongong, has been tasked with the Church's investigation into Saunder's management, including financial affairs and handling allegations of sexual misconduct by priests.[3] The Church had received complaints about Saunders as early as April 2019 and tried to evaluate them while preventing their repetition and without alerting Saunders.[4] On 27 November 2020, Saunders agreed to take a six-months leave "outside the Diocese",[5] where his continued performance in public as a priest has provoked complaints.[4]

In May 2021, government officials decided not to file criminal charges.[3] Pope Francis accepted his resignation as Bishop of Broome on 28 August 2021.[6][7]

References[]

  1. ^ "Bishop Christopher Saunders". Diocese of Broome. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  2. ^ Parke, Erin; Tomlin, Sam; Collins, Ben. "Catholic Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders voluntarily steps down amid investigation into allegation of sexual misconduct". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Parke, Erin (19 May 2021). "Catholic Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders will not be prosecuted over allegations of sexual misconduct". ABC News. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Parke, Erin (3 July 2020). "Documents reveal church stayed quiet on sexual misconduct allegations against Broome Bishop for almost a year". Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  5. ^ Tomlin, Sam (28 November 2020). "Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders to leave diocese for six months amid police and Vatican investigations". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 28.08.2021" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Pope replaces Australian bishop in alleged misconduct probe". Washington Post. Associated Press. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
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