In Western Australia, a former Roman Catholic bishop has been charged with child sexual abuse, including rape, Reuters reports.

Christopher Saunders, 74, was charged with 19 offences, including two counts of rape and several counts of assault and indecent behavior by a person in authority with a child.

Police said the man was denied bail

The Saunders case

The retired bishop, who previously headed the Diocese of Broome in Western Australia, was escorted by police after his arrest.

He previously denied any involvement in such wrongdoing, but resigned in 2020 after the allegations emerged.

At the time, the police did not find enough evidence to charge him.

The reaction of the Church and the authorities

Archbishop Timothy Costello, president of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said the church would continue to cooperate with police.

“The allegations against the former Bishop of Broome, Christopher Saunders, are very serious and deeply concerning, especially for those making the allegations,” Costello said.

Saunders, who began his priestly career in 1976, was bishop from 1995 until 2020, when he resigned amid allegations.

Pope Francis accepted his resignation in 2021. The Vatican also opened a separate investigation.