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Ex-bishop found to have abused young men at the height of his powers Christopher Alan Saunders, 76, a former Catholic bishop in Western Australia, has been found guilty of sexually abusing two young men during his tenure as the Bishop of Broome. The conviction follows a three-week trial in the District Court, where a jury deliberated for nearly seven hours before delivering its verdict. Saunders was convicted of one count of sexual penetration and 12 counts of indecent assault. He was found not guilty of six other charges. The offences allegedly occurred between 2008 and 2019 while Saunders was serving as the Bishop of Broome, a position he held for 25 years. During this period, he oversaw 13 schools and nine parishes. The victims were young Aboriginal men living in the Kimberley region, where Indigenous people constitute more than 40 per cent of the population. The alleged abuses reportedly took place at the Bishop's church-owned residence in Broome, a popular tourist destination, and at a retreat known as the beach house. Court proceedings included accounts of "shirts off" gatherings hosted by Saunders, where young men were supplied with alcohol and food while dressed only in boxer shorts. These gatherings sometimes involved wrestling and boxing sessions. The court heard that Saunders touched the victims' private areas, used his feet to sexually touch them, and in one instance performed oral sex without consent. Saunders did not testify in his defence and instead relied on police interview recordings to present denials. Prosecutors argued that Saunders had a sexual interest in young Aboriginal men and a tendency to act on that interest. Prosecutor Adam Ebell urged the jury to focus on the victims' testimonies despite their criminal histories. Defence lawyer Tony Hager described Saunders' actions as "boozy" and "sleazy," but stated that his client was not on trial for inviting young men to socialise or for using church funds to purchase alcohol. Hager suggested that the victims' memories might have been influenced by alcohol consumption, particularly considering the time elapsed since the alleged incidents. During the trial, the prosecution dropped four charges related to a younger alleged victim. These included three counts of indecent dealing with a child under 13 and one count of sexual penetration of a child under 13. The charges were discontinued due to insufficient evidence. Saunders will face sentencing on September 21. He has been remanded in custody and made no application for bail. His defence lawyer, David Manera, commented briefly outside the court but did not elaborate further. The case marks a significant moment in the ongoing scrutiny of sexual misconduct within religious institutions. Pope Francis accepted Saunders' resignation in 2021, a year after the allegations surfaced. Unless overturned on appeal, Saunders would become the highest-ranking Catholic in Australia convicted of sexual abuse while serving as a clergy member. The trial highlighted the power dynamics between Saunders and his victims, many of whom referred to him as "Brother B." Prosecutors emphasized how Saunders exploited his position of trust to engage in abusive behaviour. The case continues to draw attention to the broader issue of abuse of power within religious communities. Saunders is set to appear in court again on September 21 for sentencing. His legal team has yet to indicate whether they plan to appeal the convictions.