A former Catholic bishop in Australia, Christopher Saunders, has been sentenced to six years and six months in prison for sexually abusing two young Indigenous men.

Six years ago, amid allegations against him in 2020, Mr Saunders resigned as Bishop of Broome. But he was later found guilty of one charge of rape and 12 counts of indecent assault in August.

Mr Saunders’ sentencing on Wednesday came over a month after a District Court of Western Australia state jury convicted him of sexual abuse which occurred between 2008 and 2019, when he served as bishop of Broome.

Prosecutors said during the period, Mr Saunders lured young men to his residence with alcohol and cigarettes purchased with church funds.

Acquitted of six charges while four charges against him were dropped, Mr Saunders will be eligible for parole in 2031.

President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Timothy Costello, n a statement on Wednesday, said “The crimes for which the former bishop of Broome has been sentenced today are a shocking and shameful.” 

The leader of Australia Catholic Bishops offered apologies to the victims and survivors of Mr Saunders’ acts.  

“To each victim and survivor who courageously revealed what they had endured, we want to say this: We are sorry for the pain and suffering that was inflicted on you. We are sorry that your trust was so directly and profoundly betrayed by a leader of the Church,” he stated.