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Online resources for the day include the 2002 National Day of Prayer Task Force site, which has a history and a list of what to pray for. The Christianity Today International special events page lists articles such as "Why Participate in the National Day of Prayer?"

Church abuse scandal:

• U.S. Catholics see turning point for church | Many of the faithful are now being tested as never before. (The New York Times)
  
  
• Hispanics Still Backing Catholic Leaders, for Now | If there is one group whose loyalty the Roman Catholic Church in the United States is counting on, it is the 21 million Hispanic-American Catholics. (The New York Times)
  
  
• Priests Gather in NY, New Hampshire | After a 45-minute speech by Egan, some 500 priests broke into small groups. Priests said Egan met with the groups and answered their concerns. (Associated Press)
  
  
• Also: Meeting on abuse cases bolsters morale, priests say | Cardinal Edward M. Egan meets with hundreds of New York City priests to discuss future responses to sexual abuse allegations. (The New York Times)
  
  
• Four sue Cardinal Mahony, using racketeering laws | A lawyer for four men who said they were repeatedly molested by a priest filed suit against Cardinal Roger M. Mahony and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, charging the cardinal with racketeering for failing to remove the priest. (The New York Times)
  
  
• Also: Four men sue Los Angeles archbishop | Priest sued under a federal law originally aimed at busting organized crime. (USA Today)
  
  
• Catholics launch donation boycott | Archdiocese urged to adopt reforms (Chicago Tribune)
  
  
• Nuns Hope Abuse Scandal Brings Extensive Reform | Along with thousands of lay Catholics and some in the clergy itself, nuns are calling for a greater and more egalitarian role for women in the church. (Los Angeles Times)
  
  
• Report of Church troubles proved prophetic | The title of the confidential report is: "The Problem of Sexual Molestation by Roman Catholic Clergy." It is a 92-page document extraordinary not only for its blunt review of "the problem," but also because it was written nearly 17 years ago. (Insight magazine)

Cardinal Bernard Law:

• Law Toughens Church Stance On Abuse | The embattled head of Boston's Roman Catholic Church told parishioners he has toughened his archdiocese's stance toward priests accused of sex abuse, though a national policy won't be enacted until a bishops' meeting in June. (CBS News)
  
  
• In about-face, Lowell priest to back Law's appeal | Pastor now says he only meant to postpone asking for donations. (The Boston Globe)
  
  
• Before: Pastor rejects drive led by Law | Lowell parish spurns Cardinal's Appeal. (The Boston Globe)
  
  
• Cardinal Law opposes parish group | He orders priests to ignore proposed parish councils group, angering laity. (Associated Press)

Church abuse opinion:

• Blame Church Arrogance, Not Oversexed Society | The Catholic clergy might be best served by reciting the wisdom of Pogo: 'We have met the enemy and he is us.' (Robert Scheer, Los Angeles Times)
  
  
• Teaching on sex still church role | Despite the church's reputation and its official teachings that sex is permissible only with marriage--I can't remember the last time I heard anything about personal sexual morality from the pulpit on Sunday morning. (Chicago Sun-Times)
  
  
• The church and its critics | Anti-Catholic opportunitists seize on a sex scandal. (The Wall Street Journal)
  
  
• Lies of the cardinals | Rather than lie even for a good cause, even for the church, Augustine asked himself what Jesus would do. (The New York Times)

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April (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46