CARDINALS PRAY BEFORE VATICAN MEETING ON CHILD SEX SCANDALS, 2002-04-23 (photo)

Roman Catholic cardinals pray before a meeting on child sex scandals at the Vatican April 23, 2002. Vatican officials started an unprecedented meeting on Tuesday with leaders of the scandal-ridden U.S. Catholic Church to find ways of protecting children from paedophile priests. Pope John Paul was due to address the prelates on Tuesday morning. Underlining the importance he has given the two-day meeting, most of the Vatican's top hierarchy is attending, including Church Secretary of State Angelo Sodano and cardinals who oversee areas such as doctrine and canon law. The U.S. Roman Catholic Church stands accused of sheltering paedophile priests and moving known abusers from parish to parish in a cover-up that has shaken the confidence of the faithful from Boston to Los Angeles. REUTERS/Reuters Television KM