Over a week ago, Bishop Donald Pelotte of the Diocese of Gallup was taken to the hospital after sustaining severe head injuries in a fall. However, when he arrived at the emergency room, the doctor on call noted that his injuries were not consistent with a fall and called the police.According to Deacon Timoteo Lujan, Pelotte's assistant and the chancellor of the diocese, the severity of Pelotte's injuries caused the emergency room physician to wonder if the 62-year-old bishop had possibly been a victim of a violent assault.
However, according to the Gallup Independent, Bishop Pelotte has insisted that he was not assaulted by anyone and that his injuries are the result of a fall down a staircase at his home. The Bishop remains in the intensive care unit at the John C. Lincoln Hospital in Phoenix.
The Bishop’s accident was discovered by Lujan on Monday afternoon when Pelotte failed to show for a 2 p.m. appointment at work, causing a concerned Lujan to drive to the bishop’s home. Lujan had a key to the house and let himself in. When he entered he discovered blood on the tile floor at the bottom of the carpeted stairway, which leads up to Pelotte's bedroom, and became alarmed.
When Lujan went upstairs and unlocked the bishop's bedroom door, he found him severely injured.
The police report says Lujan found Pelotte "heavily bruised across the face, along the chest area, both arms, the knuckles, the legs, and the feet." Lujan suspected someone may have assaulted the bishop, but a conscious Pelotte told Lujan that was not the case.
The Gallup Police Department reports that currently the incident is not under investigation because of Pelotte's insistence that a fall caused his injuries. However, an investigation could be launched if new information indicated it was warranted.
Although Deacon Lujan admitted he has his own questions about what caused the bishop's injuries, he does know that the house was secure when he entered it. "Nothing is missing," he said. "I can tell you nobody broke in," he added.
And even though the bishop has insisted he was not assaulted, Lujan said a number of people have questioned the bishop's claim. "He looks like he got beat up," Lujan admitted.
"I know that many are concerned about the bishop’s condition and there is much speculation as to what happened to cause Bishop’s injuries."
"There are certain things we know about what happened: Bishop was alone in his home and there were no signs of a struggle, forced entry, presence of another person, or missing items from the bishop’s home. Bishop has responded repeatedly, when ask about what happened, merely that he fell. Bishop’s injuries, although extensive, are consistent with injuries sustained by falling down a staircase, with a ceramic tile floor. He hit the wall.
"I am careful about speculation that might be unwarranted. “Our immediate focus is to pray for the Bishop’s full and speedy recovery."
"I visited with Bishop earlier today, and he continues to make reasonable progress."
The Bishop is a native of Maine and a member of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. He wrote his doctoral dissertation on John Courtney Murray and the American experience that later went on to be published by Paulist Press. He has been in Gallup since being appointed Coadjutor in 1986 and he succeeded in 1990. His motto is "Strengthen One Another."
His congregation's founder is Saint Peter Julian Eymard whose feast day is Thursday. Perhaps we can all remember the bishop in our prayers this week.
Links:
Diocese of Gallup
Catholic Hierarchy
Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament
Labels: U.S. Bishops
