Bishop Moved from ICU, by Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola, Gallup Independent, August 5, 2007

Bishop Moved from ICU
Diocese of Gallup clamps down on its official

By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Gallup Independent
August 5, 2007

http://www.gallupindependent.com/2007/august/080407ehb_bshpmvdfrmicu.html

Gallup — Roman Catholic Bishop Donald E. Pelotte has been moved from the ICU at John C. Lincoln Hospital in Phoenix, according to an e-mail sent by the Diocese to the Gallup Independent Friday.

However, the chancellor of the Diocese of Gallup won't be speaking with the media in the near future.

Remarks by Deacon Timoteo Lujan, the chancellor, and a copy of a Gallup Police report set off a storm of controversy after Lujan discovered Roman Catholic Bishop Donald E. Pelotte seriously injured in his Gallup home on July 23. According to chancery officials and the police report, Pelotte has insisted his injuries resulted from a fall down his home staircase.

Bishop Pelotte

When reached by telephone at his home on July 29, Lujan straightforwardly answered questions by The Independent about the incident, his own perceptions of the bishop's injuries, and questions raised by the police report. Although Pelotte insisted he had fallen, Lujan admitted that the bishop appeared to him as though he had possibly been assaulted. According to Lujan, the emergency room physician and the responding Gallup police officer suspected that also. Lujan said Pelotte suffered serious head injuries which resulted in traumatic brain injury for the 62-year-old bishop.

But now, according to an Aug. 2 e-mail sent from the Gallup chancery and posted on Lujan's "Chancellor's Blog," Lujan will only offer written statements about Pelotte's condition through the diocese's Web site.

"Due to the lack of resources as a small and poor diocese, the Diocese of Gallup does not have professional communications/media personnel on staff," the statement says. "For this reason, all information will be provided only by these updates on the diocesan Web site and the Chancellor's Blog."

Lujan has acted as Pelotte's primary media spokesman for more than five years.

The remainder of Lujan's Aug. 2 message concerns the bishop's condition: "Bishop Pelotte has been moved out of the Intensive Care Unit at John C. Lincoln Hospital in Phoenix to a private room," the statement says. "Hospital medical staffs offer no new information on his condition other than the fact that he is no longer in ICU."

"It is imperative that Bishop Pelotte be allowed to rest and heal. For this reason family members have asked hospital staff to restrict visitors to family members and designated clergy."

Reporter Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola can be contacted at (505) 863-6811 ext. 218 or ehardinburrola@yahoo.com.