March 9, 2004

Don't Look Back: Move On to the Next Cause

By Lona Manning
Mike Farrell, best known for his role as doctor BJ Hunnicutt in the 1970s television series M*A*S*H, is back in the news in California. Farrell is an ardent opponent of the death penalty, and this month's cause celebre is convicted killer Kevin Cooper, whom Farrell and others are attempting to save from the electric chair. The justice system "entraps the innocent," Farrell warns. And he ought to know, because in the early 90's Farrell was a leading light in a crusade against satanic ritual abuse. At the time, a nation—wide panic had doctors, social workers and prosecutors convinced that a secret web of satanists were preying on children coast—to—coast —— in schools, day carecenters, even churches. On the basis of these wild accusations, scores of innocent people were flung into prison. Incredibly, some of them are still there. Others were released after having lost their homes, jobs, families and reputations. Farrell's contribution to the witch...(Read Full Article)