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	Judge Continues Priest's Restraining Order Hearing By Electa Draper The Denver Post April 16, 2010 http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_14900039 A Douglas County judge today continued until May 7 consideration of a a permanent restraining order against a priest that a St. Thomas More Parish family said worked to divide the parents from their 18-year-old son. Judge Lawrence Raymond Bowling left in place a temporary protective order issued April 2 that prevents Father Paul Montez from contacting the family, visiting the boy's high school or place of work. He declined to expand the order to keep Montez from attending mass at St. Thomas More, as the family had asked in their original request for a restraining order. The Catholic Archdiocese of Denver removed Father Paul Montez from ministry in February in response to the family's allegations, after church officials determined the 50-year-old priest had inappropriately interfered in the family's affairs. However, archdiocese spokeswoman Jeanette DeMelo said, the church found no evidence of sexual misconduct. Montez, a Benedictine monk, grew up in the Pueblo area and has ministered in the Pueblo Diocese, including serving as pastor at St. Michael's Church in Delta. He is currently living in Pueblo. Montez joined St. Thomas More in July 2008 at the invitation of its pastor, Father Andrew Kemberling, according to archdiocese records. Montez, who was at the hearing today, said he would not comment on the case until it is concluded. He is currently on a three-year leave from his Kansas-based monastic community, according to court records. Pueblo Diocese officials have not returned the Post's calls about Montez's status in that diocese. The Bohs said they have been parishioners at St. Thomas More in Centennial for 12 years. Beginning in August 2008, the Bohs' eldest son had worked at the church as a sacristan, the person who helps arrange vessels, vestments and everything needed by a priest to celebrate Mass. Timothy and Teresa "Traci" Boh told Bowling that Montez spent nine weeks lying to their son about them and lying to them about their son, all the while encouraging the 18-year-old to move out of the Boh home in November. The young man stayed at the St. Thomas More youth center briefly, his parents said, before moving in with another parish family. The Bohs further allege in their complaint that Montez described the family to their son and other parishioners as "crazy and mentally abusive." The Bohs said that Montez had begun manipulating their son more than a year ago by giving him dozens of gifts of clothing and a laptop computer. He took him on more than 200 outings. "Montez started grooming him (for what we believe would have resulted in sexual assault had Montez not been stopped), over a year and a half ago," the Bohs said in their complaint. Electa Draper: 303-954-1276 or edraper@denverpost.com
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