Christopher Alan Saunders, 76, has pleaded not guilty to a slew of sexual assault charges related to alleged offending from 2008 to 2017 while he was the Bishop of Broome in Western Australia.
"During that time, it is the state's case that the accused sexually offended against multiple young Aboriginal males in different ways at different locations across the Kimberley," prosecutor Adam Ebell told a District Court jury on Tuesday.
Saunders, known as Brother B by his alleged victims, hosted parties for Aboriginal youths at a Catholic Church-owned property, he said.
"He gave them food, alcohol and cigarettes using funds owned by the Catholic Church," Mr Ebell said during his opening remarks.
"These parties provided the accused with access to young Aboriginal men."
Saunders faces 26 charges related to three alleged victims.
Jurors were told the bishop's parties had rules, and young men were often told to strip down to their boxer shorts.
Those without boxer shorts would be given a fresh pair by Saunders, Mr Ebell said.Â
The then-bishop's alleged grooming behaviour also included using boxing bouts and wrestling during the parties to grapple and touch his victims.
Saunders sometimes used his feet to allegedly indecently touch his victims.
Mr Ebell said Saunders used his authority as a senior member of the Catholic Church to exploit victims, amid a power imbalance.
"The state says the accused, who took a vow of celibacy in 1975, had a sexual interest in young men and had a propensity to act when the opportunity presented itself," he said.
The court was told one alleged victim was about 16 when Saunders started abusing him.
It allegedly continued until he was in his twenties.
In one alleged incident, Saunders gave the young man alcohol and then sexually abused him multiple times while they were camping.
On another occasion, Saunders sexually assaulted the teen at his home after the pair showered together, Mr Ebell said.
Saunders was found with a photo of the semi-naked man on his phone.
Mr Ebell said the abuse happened at multiple locations on numerous occasions.
Saunders also allegedly transported alcohol paid for by the Catholic Church into a dry community for his victims to drink.
The trial continues.
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