The former Bishop of Broome who has been accused of alleged historical sex offences against Indigenous youth and children across the Kimberley has pleaded not guilty.
On Monday, Christopher Saunders appeared before the Broome Magistrates Court in a committal mention where he entered the plea.
The 74-year-old former Catholic bishop is facing 28 charges in total, including three counts of a person in authority indecently dealing with a child, 16 counts of unlawful and indecent assault, and two counts of sexual penetration without consent.
It is alleged at least some of the offences took place in Broome, Kununurra, and Kalumburu between 2008 and 2016.
The West Australian reported Mr Saunders' lawyer, Seamus Rafferty, indicated to the court that the former bishop would enter a plea to the remaining six charges - all counts of inadequately storing firearms and being unlicensed to possess a firearm or ammunition - next year.
Two new counts of unlawful and indecent assault were added by police in April.
In 2023 a leaked 200-page report from the Vatican found it was likely Mr Saunders sexually assaulted four Indigenous youths and may have groomed 67 others.
It also claimed he used significant amounts of church funding to bring alcohol into dry communities and alleged other offences.
Mr Saunders has always denied any wrongdoings.
He has become the highest-ranking member of the church to be accused of sex crimes since the acquittal of Cardinal George Pell by the High Court in 2020.
Mr Saunders will next appear at the Broome District Court on January 28 for a trial listing hearing.
His bail conditions have been extended until then.
If you are a victim of sexual abuse, or if you have information about someone being sexually abused, please contact police on 131 444, or report the information anonymously via the Safe2Say online reporting platform.
