BishopAccountability.org
	Stop the Cover-Up Independent August 11, 2007 http://www.gallupindependent.com/2007/august/081107io_stopthecoverup.html Gallup — The controversy over the bishop of Gallup and what happened to him on or about July 23 is now in state district court, not over the question of what actually happened to him on or about July 23 but whether the public has the fundamental right to public information. The Diocese of Gallup does not want photos taken of the bishop on that day released. The city attorney, George Kozeliski, a Catholic, doesn't want these photos released, as instructed by the Gallup Diocese. And we can assume that the Most Rev. Donald Pelotte doesn't want these photos released. After all, who would want photos of themselves released to the public that show your face smashed and bruised and your eye swollen from some kind of violent encounter. But these photos are public records and when - that's a when and not an if - they are released, we plan to publish them for one simple reason: they will give the public a chance to determine for themselves whether the bruises that Pelotte received that day came from falling down the stairs, as he says, or were the result of a vicious assault. In a world where religious leaders are known for telling the truth, this would be a no-brainer. He fell down the stairs. But religious leaders of all kinds – not only Catholic – have been shown in recent years to keep secrets, dirty secrets, especially dealing with their private lives. And right now the only evidence that has been made public supporting the falling down the stairs scenario has come from Pelotte himself. After all, how long did church officials lie to the public about priest/child molestation? On the opposite side, there was the chancery official who first saw Pelotte in his bedroom behind locked doors and his first impression was that the bishop was assaulted. There was the RMCH emergency room doctor who first treated him and thought the injuries looked so much like an assault that the police were called. Then the first police officer to investigate the report also treated it as an assault. Both the doctor and the police officer are under an oath and legal statutes to report crimes. It was only after Pelotte continued to deny he was the victim of an assault that police backed away and closed down their investigation. Victims of domestic violence regularly appear for treatment denying a beating or battering by a family member or close friend, in a misguided attempt to protect a perpetrator. But, acting Chief Robert Cron, you need to investigate anyway. From everything that has come out, we have no doubt that this is what happened; Pelotte was viciously assaulted and now he's trying to cover up because either he wants to protect the person who did it or wants to keep secret the relationship he has with the perpetrator. But recent events make us wonder just how far the cover-up reaches. Chief Cron is refusing to order a police investigation and refuses to release to the media copies of the photos his officers took of the bishop. He passed the buck to the city where George Kozeliski, now in the final days as city attorney, told him not to release them. Chief Cron, don't you all have a sworn duty to uphold the law? We can't help but wonder which master Kozeliski is serving in this matter. After all, he is a Catholic and a friend of Pelotte's. Is he allowing his religious affiliation and/or his friendship with the bishop to influence his decision on this matter? Does he care about the public's right to know or about carrying out his duties to follow the law? Is the Gallup Catholic Diocese the final say on what is law? Kozeliski says he is between a rock and a hard place. If he releases the photos, the city faces a lawsuit from the diocese. If he doesn't, the media will sue and they are. The obvious answer: follow state law and release the photos. Instead, Kozeliski decided to pass the buck and the matter is now in district court where a judge has been asked to make the decision. It's obvious to people that individuals who are involved in the Pelotte controversy are doing their best to protect the Church and Pelotte from bad publicity. But by trying to cover it up, all they have done is to prolong the controversy. What are you hiding? Cron doesn't need the court or Kozeliski to tell him what his duty is. He is a sworn police officer. And Kozeliski grossly erred when he decided after receiving the request to contact the diocese to get their permission. Does New Mexico state law allow the victim or the organization he works for to determine if something is a public document? The public has a fundamental right to know. The attention the assault upon Pelotte is receiving, both locally and now throughout the state, proves even more that an investigation is needed. By this time, of course, the obvious evidence that was available at Pelotte's home is long gone. The diocese, in order to continue the cover-up, has sanitized the stairs and Pelotte's bedroom to make sure that any signs of an assault have been washed away. But we have confidence that a competent police investigation, even at this late date, will bring forth the truth of the matter. There are people, besides Pelotte, who have information about what happened that day. But these people won't be coming forward as long as police continue to be a part of the cover-up. End the lies and deceit and get at the truth of the matter. Follow our state laws and release the photos. Do a thorough investigation.
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