A West Australian Catholic bishop has stood down amid reports "bombshell revelations" about him are about to be revealed.
Christopher Saunders has voluntarily stood aside from the ordinary administration of the Broome diocese, a statement from Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe says.
The Emeritus Bishop of Wollongong, the Most Reverend Peter Ingham, has been appointed the "apostolic visitator" while Monsignor Paul Boyers will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the diocese.
The statement said the Holy See was "conscious of the particular situation in the diocese of Broome and concerned for the pastoral care of the clergy, religious and laity of the diocese".
Bishop Saunders attempts to play the digeridoo during World Youth Day 2008 celebrations. Source: AAP
According to the diocese website, he is the second Bishop of Broome, has an interest in Aboriginal issues and oversees the welfare of 10,000 Catholics within a 773,000 square-kilometre area.
"He travels enormous distances in his job," the website states.
Bishop Saunders arrived in Broome as a deacon in 1975 before becoming a priest the following year when he served at La Grange Mission.
He also worked as a priest at Kalumburu Mission from 1982 to 1988.
Comment was sought from Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, which is the permanent collegial assembly of the nation's Catholic bishops.
