Colleagues condemn sex predator bishop after 'evil called out'

Colleagues of disgraced Catholic Bishop Christopher Saunders, who was found guilty yesterday of sexually abusing young Aboriginal men in WA's remote north, have spoken of their relief at the verdict.Saunders, 76, was found guilty of 13 counts of sexual abuse committed during his long tenure as Bishop of Broome.Christopher Saunders leaving court after the fourth day of his trial on sexual assault allegations. (ABC News: David Weber)Saunders, who worked in some of Australia's most remote Indigenous communities for about 40 years, was acquitted of six other charges.He will be sentenced next month but remains a bishop, with no action taken by the Catholic Church to defrock him.Former priest Matt Digges reported to Saunders for two decades and said the truth had been a long time coming."I was quite overwhelmed when I was driving yesterday afternoon and the news came through," he said."I had to pull over and just have a quiet moment, or more than a quiet moment, to just digest the information."During the trial the court heard Saunders had suppled alcohol to vulnerable young men during "shirts off" parties he hosted.Mr Digges thanked the victims for their honesty and courage in "allowing themselves to be on show and scrutinised"."Those people have been targeted by others who didn't want the truth to come out," he said."An evil has been called out."Matt Digges worked alongside Christopher Saunders in Broome. (ABC News: Claudia Jambor)Reputational damageMr Digges condemned Saunders for damaging the Catholic church's reputation."Work that has been described as pastoral work is anything but — it was actually destruction of the pastoral basis of the work of the church in the Kimberley," he said.Chris Bedding thanks the victims for coming forward. (ABC News: Ben Tessler)The chief executive of the Faith Workers Alliance, which represents and supports religious workers nationwide, shared that sentiment."Bishops are supposed to be shepherds and not wolves," Chris Bedding said."The perpetrator's actions have brought disgrace upon his church and he's betrayed the people he was sent to serve."Mr Bedding believes the verdict represents a moment of reckoning for the church."We have to expose disgusting behaviour when it occurs," he said."To the young men who exposed this disgraceful behaviour, I just want to say thank you."You were mistreated and harmed by someone who should have cared for you."Father John Purnell, who helped Saunders's offending come to light by accompanying a young Indigenous man to a police station to make a statement, also praised the bravery of the victims."I'm so happy justice has been done and welcome the victims being believed," Father Purnell said."It's about the bravery of those young Indigenous men."Bishop of Broome Tim Norton apologised to the victims and encouraged people to raise concerns."We are sorry for the shame they have endured," he said."We are sorry it has taken so long for their voices to be heard and for their pain to be acknowledged."Saunders is in custody and is expected to appear in court again next month.