Former Bishop Christopher Saunders Was Charged With 2 Rapes, 14 Attacks And 3 Insults
JAKARTA - Australian Bishop Christopher Saunders has been charged with rape and a series of sexual offenses, some of which are against children.The 74-year-old was arrested inICKone last Wednesday after a parallel investigation ordered by Western Australian police and the Pope.Saunders has indicated he will pleaded not guilty to all charges against him. He is one of the most senior Catholic clerics to face charges like this.Saunders was charged with two counts of rape, 14 charges of unlawful and indecent assault, and three charges of indecently dealing with a child as an authorized person.Allegations of violations occurred in the city ofICKee, Kununurra, and the remote Kalumburu Aboriginal community in Western Australia between 2008 and 2014.The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, quoted via the BBC, Friday, February 23, reported that the defendant was released on bail on Thursday and ordered to stay at his home until the next hearing in June, reported.Apart from the late Cardinal George Pelll, who was jailed and later released, Saunders is the country's most senior Catholic official charged with child sex offenses.In a statement on Thursday, the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference pledged to cooperate with police, and said the charges against Saunders were "very serious and very sad, especially for those who made the allegations"."It is true and appropriate, and it is necessary that all such accusations be thoroughly investigated," said Archbishop of Perth Timothy happened.First inspired in 1976, Saunders spent most of his career in the country's remote Kimberley region in the northwestern corner, and was appointed Bishop ofCE in 1996.The diocese stretches about 770.000 square km (297,000 square miles) - an area approximately Turkish-wide and covers some of the country's most remote parts.Famous for socializing, advocacy work, and escorting youth on camping and fishing trips, Saunders has long been a strong figure in the local community. There is also a beer named after him.The allegations first went live in 2020, but the initial police investigation that followed them closed off on charges. He voluntarily stepped down as Bishop of Finance in 2020, but remained an emeritus bishop.However, after a historic investigation ordered by the Pope, the police began a new investigation. Only a handful of questions from Vos Estis Lux Mundi have been asked around the world.
This means that "You Are World's Light" in Latin, Vos Estis' investigations were carried out by whales and introduced in 2019 to combat sexual harassment and take action against bishops and other high-ranking officials in the Catholic Church.