Stop him, now

By Tony Staley
Compass Editor

Reports last week that an arrest warrant alleging multiple counts of child molestation had been issued for pop icon Michael Jackson provides food for thought.

Ten years ago, similar accusations were made against the 45-year-old singer, but no criminal charges were filed and the issue was dropped. Jackson has said he was innocent of both the earlier accusations and the current ones. But he is reported to have paid a multimillion-dollar civil settlement to the family of the child he was said in 1993 to have abused and the child would not testify in any criminal proceeding.

While an affidavit outlining the charges is still sealed, sources say it alleges molestation of a 12-year-old boy at Neverland Ranch, his storybook playground. Jackson has held sleep-over parties with children at the ranch.

On an ABC-TV documentary that aired earlier this year, Jackson said he had slept in a bed with many children. "When you say 'bed,' you're thinking sexual. It's not sexual, we're going to sleep. I tuck them in.... It's very charming, it's very sweet."

About a year ago, Jackson dangled his infant son over the balcony railing of his fourth-floor hotel room as shocked fans watched.

For nearly two years, leaders of the Catholic Church have been under continual media scrutiny for their response to accusations of sexual abuse, some of which happened 40 or more years ago. There was understandable shock and outrage that abusive priests were reassigned to other parishes without warning anyone in those parishes about past allegations.

It must be remembered that, as a society, we've learned a lot about sexual abuse in the last 10-15 years that was not understood at earlier times. That is why it is so unacceptable that Michael Jackson's practice of "sleep-overs" with young children with whom he is not related could be allowed to continue.

Whether or not, as he maintains, "it's not sexual," he must not be allowed to continue this practice. It's as wrong as dangling an infant over a balcony and shows exceedingly poor judgment.

Behavior of this sort must not be allowed to continue by anyone, including the "King of Pop."