Australian bishop acknowledges 8-year delay in justice in Indigenous abuse case but defends process

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, acknowledged an eight-year delay in seeking justice for the sexual abuse of young Indigenous men by a former bishop. Speaking on the sidelines of a Vatican conference, Costelloe defended the Church's decision to let police lead the investigation, stating that respecting the integrity of the Australian justice system was the primary reason for the length of the process.

The delay follows the criminal sentencing of former Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders, who received six years and six months in prison on Wednesday. A District Court of Western Australia jury convicted the 76-year-old of 13 out of 19 charges of sexual abuse occurring between 2008 and 2019. Prosecutors alleged Saunders used church funds to buy alcohol and cigarettes to lure victims to his church-owned residence. Saunders denied the allegations, and it is currently unknown if he will appeal.

Church and law enforcement officials first learned of the allegations in 2018. The Vatican forced Saunders to retire early in 2021 when he was 71 years old. While the Australian police investigation was twice halted due to a lack of evidence, Costelloe said he hopes the Church can now reopen its internal legal procedures against Saunders following his criminal conviction.