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	Vatican Accepts Area Bishop's Resignation By Debra Mayeux Daily Times May 1, 2008 http://www.daily-times.com/news/ci_9113907 Nearly 10 months after suffering a severe head injury, Donald Pelotte no longer is the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gallup. An announcement was made Wednesday by the Vatican that Pope Benedict XVI accepted Pelotte's resignation as pastor of the diocese because of "ill health or another serious reason," a press release from the diocese stated. "The people here are very sad," said the Rev. Jim Walker, vicar general of the diocese and pastor of St. Mary's parish in Bloom-field. He is in charge of the diocese when the bishop is not present. Walker said many of the people in Gallup worked with Pelotte for more than 20 years and are feeling a "hard personal loss." The Diocese of Gallup is one of the largest Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States, encompassing all of San Juan and McKinley counties in New Mexico as well as most of northeastern Arizona. Pelotte, 63, was hospitalized in July 2007 with head trauma at a Gallup hospital. He apparently fell down the stairs at his home and was found by members of his staff when he did not come into the office. However, there was speculation that Pelotte was assaulted. Police did not back up the story and Diocese of Gallup officials have said the injury was from the fall. After receiving treatment in Arizona, Texas and Florida, Pelotte returned to Gallup Sept. 21. Shortly after his return last September, the bishop called police to report that intruders had come to his home and refused to leave. He called them little "peaceful people." The resignation was not a surprise. "We saw it coming, but physically he looks good," Walker said. "On a personal level we all hope he is well," said Charles "Lee" Lamb, communications director for the diocese. Pelotte was granted a one-year medical leave by the Vatican in December 2007, and the pope appointed the Most Rev. Thomas Olmsted, bishop of Phoenix, as the acting bishop and apostolic administrator of Gallup. He will remain in charge until a replacement for Pelotte is appointed. "Sometimes these things take a year or two," Walker said. "We don't know; there may be somebody or somebodies being considered." There is a lengthy process that involves recommendations being made by the "apostolic nuncio" in Washington, D.C., followed by a review by the Congregation of Bishops in Rome. The pope is the one who appoints all bishops. Walker said that Archbishop Michael Sheehan of Santa Fe probably would offer some recommendations. Pelotte and Olmsted also would be consulted in the finding of a new bishop. Sheehan expressed his appreciation for Pelotte's service when he heard of the resignation. "The faithful of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and I are grateful for Bishop Pelotte's many years of service as Bishop of Gallup and pray for his continued healing and to pray for Pope Benedict XVI as he prepares to appoint Bishop Pelotte's successor," he said. Pelotte was appointed at bishop of Gallup in 1990, when his predecessor, Bishop Jerome Hastrich, retired. Pelotte, whose father was an Abenaki Indian, made history when he became the first American Indian bishop. Debra Mayeux: dmayeux@daily-times.com
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