Western Australia Premier Roger Cook said it was a “scourge” on the Catholic Church that the incidents had not been reported earlier. “I am pleased that the Vatican has conducted this investigation,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
In a statement, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, president of the Australian Bishops’ Conference, said the allegations against Bishop Saunders were “very serious and deeply disturbing” and that it was appropriate for them to be fully investigated.
The former Bishop of Broome, Christopher Saunders may have sexually abused at least four Aboriginal children and teenagers and may have attacked them in a variety of ways up to 67 boys according to a study published by The Australian.
It says that Saunders organized “Bunga-bunga” parties on church grounds and spent thousands of dollars of church funds on cash, cell phones, alcohol and cigarettes. The prelate has denied the allegations and has not been charged by Western Australian police He resigned in 2020 after allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment came to light.
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“Through interviews with witnesses and examination of documents and other evidence, it was determined that Bishop Christopher Saunders, while in the Kimberley region, developed a practice of recruiting young Aboriginal people for sexual relationships, both of the quality of a priest and a bishop . ” says the 2020 report.
Western Australia Premier Roger Cook said it was a “scourge” on the Catholic Church that the incidents had not been reported earlier. “I am pleased that the Vatican has conducted this investigation,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
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Western Australian police, for their part, have requested a copy of the Vatican report and will investigate if further information comes to light. Complaints were filed in both 2018 and 2020 but were unsuccessful due to a lack of evidence.
In a statement, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, president of the Australian Bishops’ Conference, said the allegations against Bishop Saunders were “very serious and deeply disturbing” and that it was appropriate for them to be fully investigated.
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He said the church’s investigation was overseen by Archbishop of Brisbane Mark Coleridge and entrusted to a specialist, experienced and independent investigative body.
The report was handed over to the Holy See and the Dicastery for the Doctrine of F The investigation is continuing, Archbishop Costelloe said.
“We respect the confidential nature of this process and will not comment on the specific allegations that have been made,” he said.
“In due course the Holy See will make its decisions. We hope this will not be unduly delayed.”
