A young husband and wife, Joseph Scott Craig and Joy Suzanne Johnson, have been accused of an assortment of crimes that include rape, assault and kidnapping. They were arrested June 27.

What got everyone's attention were two words contained in a sentence uttered by Mark McCullough, an assistant district attorney: "Part of the allegations are that satanic worship is part of this case."

Did you spot the two words?

I hate to engage in legal hair-splitting, but a distinction must be made here. Rape and kidnapping are crimes. Satanic worship might be widely regarded as a sin, but I don't believe it is covered by any of our criminal statutes.

Courts don't deal with satan-worship issues very well. Satanic rituals, for example, were very much part of the legal circus surrounding the McMartin day care case in California in the 1980s. It was a mass molestation case, one of the longest and costliest criminal trials ever -- and a total fiasco. It ended with acquittals or dismissals of all charges.

Suggestion to police and prosecutors: Focus on the criminal investigation. Punishing sins is way above your pay grade. It can wait for the next life.

And Geraldo, Greta, Nancy Grace -- all of you can stay where you are. There's no need to come hyperventilate in Durham.

Some additional attention has focused on Johnson's political activity; she was a vice chairwoman in the local Democratic party.

Nothing new there, though. Jesse Helms was ranting about the Democrats-Satan connection 40 years ago. Maybe he was just ahead of his time.