The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE - Church leaders have found some truth to accusations of sexual abuse against eight of its priests, according to documents from the Archdiocese of Louisville.

In nearly identical letters notifying the eight priests in July that they were being permanently removed from ministry, Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly wrote that, as required by a stricter policy on abuse adopted by Catholic bishops in June in Dallas, their removal followed "the admission or substantiation of any instance of sexual abuse of a minor."

However, there is no indication in Archbishop Kelly's letters whether he based his decisions on some or all of the allegations in lawsuits, on criminal charges or on other information that hasn't surfaced.

All eight priests are among those named in 186 lawsuits filed against the archdiocese this year, alleging sexual abuse by priests and church employees.

Three of the eight priests permanently removed from ministry face criminal charges.