LOUISVILLE — The Archdiocese of Louisville on Thursday asked a court to seal all records of recent lawsuits against the archdiocese alleging sexual abuse by priests.

        The motion came as seven more lawsuits were filed against the Roman Catholic Bishop of Louisville — the corporate name of the Louisville archdiocese. The lawsuits filed Thursday in Jefferson Circuit Court bring the total to 67 since April 19.

        A judge was scheduled to hear the motion Monday.

        The archdiocese said in its filing that concealing the records will protect victims who come forward in the future, according to a statement released Thursday.

        “During recent weeks as numerous lawsuits have been filed, the individual cases have been discussed in a very public manner. One result of this public discussion is that other victims are afraid to step forward, and relatives of both the accused and the accusers are feeling pain and bewilderment,” officials with the archdiocese wrote.

        An attorney for many of the plaintiffs, including the seven who filed Wednesday, William McMurry, did not immediately return a telephone call.

        Attorneys for the archdiocese cited in the motion a 1998 state law. The statute says if a complaint is filed alleging an act of childhood sexual abuse that occurred more than five years prior to the filing, the complaint should be accompanied by a motion to seal the records.

        “Allegations of childhood sexual abuse and childhood sexual assault are very sensitive matters,” Sen. Tom Buford, R-Nicholasville, wrote in a signed affidavit Wednesday. “It was therefore my intentions, as the sponsor of Senate Bill 53, that the court record for actions of childhood sexual abuse shall be sealed and that these matters shall be kept out of the public domain.”

        In the seven lawsuits filed Thursday, the plaintiffs claim the archdiocese was aware of sexual misconduct complaints but did not take appropriate disciplinary action against the alleged abusers.

        Three of the six Roman Catholic priests accused of being abusers in Thursday's lawsuits have been named in other recent lawsuits. The Rev. Louis E. Miller has been accused in nearly half of the total lawsuits. Father Miller retired from ministry in March after allegations were made public.

        Two others plaintiffs who filed Thursday allege they were molested by the Rev. Arthur L. Wood, who died in 1983. One other plaintiff alleges he was abused by the Rev. Thomas P. Creagh, who resigned from his parish earlier this month.

        In one lawsuit Thursday, Todd C. Robertson claims he was sexually abused by the Rev. James Hargadon while Father Hargadon was pastor at St. Polycarp Church between 1967 and 1979. It was the first public accusation against Father Hargadon, who is currently a priest at St. Patrick's Church.

        In another lawsuit, Christopher W. Brown alleges sexual abuse by the Rev. Robert Dollinger, a former priest at St. Thomas parish in Bardstown. The alleged abuse occurred between 1973 and 1978.

        The Rev. Joseph T. Herp is accused of sexual abuse by one plaintiff, Kevin B. Spalding, who was a member of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church at the time of the alleged abuse in 1990. Mr. Spalding claims Father Herp sexually abused him after he was invited to stay at Father Herp's home after having an argument with his mother. Father Herp resigned from his position at St. Leonard's Church last week.

        None of the priests is named as a defendant in the lawsuits.

Lindner, Farmer gave big for gala
Ludlow project floods neighbors
Health campus draws doubts
Plan B: Big mall would be smaller
Author to help program
Cincy city solicitor to retire after 3 decades in City Hall
Falcons nestle into 27th floor of Chemed
Funeral arrangements made for business owner Schilling
Obituary: Dorothy Hudson, 86, founded dry cleaner with her husband
Racial profiling suit outlined
Sunman teachers turn up heat
Tristate A.M. Report
BRONSON: Jimmy Carter
HOWARD: Some Good News
SMITH AMOS: Gay Presbyterians
WELLS: Victims' rights
Arts Jam mixes classical music, crafts
Car, bus crash, five injured
Ex-Lebanon manager lands job in Pa. town
Harrison opening activity center
Students get to sample careers
Tribute organized to Warren rescuers
Hospital fire called suspicious
Church wants court records sealed
Death row inmate's appeal rejected
Judge orders land taken
Kentucky News Briefs
Maifest fills Covington streets
N. Ky. Catholic schools to merge
Park temp workers lose case
Rain raises threat of mosquitos, virus