Kansas City, Mo ? Lawyers for the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph are seeking the dismissal of a sexual-abuse lawsuit against the diocese, a retired bishop, a retired priest and a former priest.

Among those named in the lawsuit is Joseph Hart, who was a priest in Kansas City before he became a bishop in Wyoming, a job from which he is now retired. The other defendants are Thomas J. O’Brien, a retired priest who served for a time as principal of St. Pius X High School and later became diocesan superintendent of schools, and Thomas M. Reardon, who served five area parishes and was administrator of a youth camp before leaving the priesthood in 1989.

Nine men, six of them anonymous, are plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which alleges a series of abuses at a lake home north of Kansas City or in church facilities, often after liquor was given to the minors. The suit alleges that most of the abuse took place from the 1960s through the 1980s.

Diocesan lawyers filed for dismissal in Jackson County Circuit Court on Monday, saying charges in the 210-page lawsuit are vague and do not specify dates of the abuse.

The lawsuit is in “blatant violation” of civil procedures that require more detail, Jonathan Haden and other lawyers wrote.

Nine men sued, but one of them, Mike Hunter, seeks damages in the alleged abuse of his late brother, Kevin Hunter.

The diocesan lawyers said the petition does not make clear which plaintiffs are making which allegations and when they occurred.

“In summary, plaintiffs have improperly shifted the burden to defendants and to the court to decipher the actual issues raised and causes of action contained in their petition,” the motion states. A motion was also filed to require defendants to be more definitive.

Reardon and Hart have denied the abuse allegations. O’Brien, who is retired, has not commented.

Matthew O’Connor, attorney for Reardon, filed motions similar to those of the diocese on Monday. Reardon said he does not recall the plaintiffs, and he asked that they list the dates of the alleged abuses.

“Because he does not remember any of the plaintiffs, Mr. Reardon cannot adequately respond to plaintiffs’ assertions without a definite time frame in which to place the alleged occurrences,” O’Connor wrote.