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,
doesnt want these photos released, as instructed by the
Gallup Diocese. And we can assume that the Most Rev. Donald Pelotte
doesnt 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 - thats 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 hes
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, dont you all have a sworn duty to uphold
the law?
We cant help but wonder which master Kozeliski is serving
in this matter. After all, he is a Catholic and a friend of Pelottes.
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 publics 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 doesnt,
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.
Its 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 doesnt 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 Pelottes home is long gone. The diocese,
in order to continue the cover-up, has sanitized the stairs and
Pelottes 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 wont 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.