The Duggars Respond to Reports That Josh Duggar Was Accused of Child Molestation

[QuestLove]

Whatever side of this we all come down on though, I know we are all praying that the Josh really has changed and has in fact stopped doing this stuff. He does have a young family and unfortunately they are going through this as well. I know we are also praying for healing for the victims as well (his sisters as well as the non-family member).

I think I am out too. Some of these posts are making me quite sad.

 

[Havard]

I find it ironic that someone so involved in telling others how immoral they are has a history of being a sexual predator, no matter what age he was.

Perhaps he has conquered those demons. Maybe not. Either way, he’s in no position to talk about morality.

Yes and no. Everyone can and should speak the truths they know. He’s just not going to be a very trusted source, at least when it comes to “the dangers of gay families/parenting”.

 

[gracepoole]

Only one of the girls was awake and aware that she had been briefly inappropriately touched through her clothes. She should have received counseling,

The others I am not sure would have needed in depth counseling, because they did not know that he had touched them through their clothes while they slept. The one incident involved Josh touching the girl as he took a blanket off of her and walked away with it.

He was the one who told his parents what he had done. They had him apologize and ask forgiveness of the girls. The girls did not recall him ever touching them.

The other incident involved him touching a hole in the seat of the pair of jeans the little girl was wearing under a dress. He told her she had a hole in her jeans and touched it. She didn’t remember the incident 4 years later until another sister told her about it.

Yes, of course I would hope the girl who was awake received counseling. And I seriously doubt that happened given what I posted earlier about the quiverfull movement. As for the other girls, do you really believe they weren’t impacted by the knowledge that their brother had touched them inappropriately while they slept? This is what I don’t get about so many comments here. Youthful indiscretion is one thing. Fondling girls without their consent crosses an entirely different line. And I’ve yet to hear that he or they received adequate (or any) counseling.

 

[gracepoole]

I find it ironic that someone so involved in telling others how immoral they are has a history of being a sexual predator, no matter what age he was.

Perhaps he has conquered those demons. Maybe not. Either way, he’s in no position to talk about morality.

Yes and no. Everyone can and should speak the truths they know. He’s just not going to be a very trusted source, at least when it comes to “the dangers of gay families/parenting”.

I think in terms of this aspect of things that it’s a question of audience awareness. People are less likely to listen to and trust someone regarding morality whom they come to find out has acted immorally.

 

[Suudy]

Claiming that the presence of pornography in a home is preferable to an actual molester in the home is denial of molestation’s severity.

Only if the “actual molester” was still an active molester. There’s zero evidence that he is.

As you didn’t make this initial claim, I’d suggest allowing the person who did to speak for himself or herself.

Thanks for the advice. But I can speak for myself and what I see people post. I’m not pretending to speak for others.

No, the most frightening thing here (on the forum, sure, but within the Duggar family and their “religion” more specifically) is the ignorance regarding the victims.

Well, that’s not what you said earlier. So if you’ve changed your opinion, then fine. But let’s not pretend people think what he did is less severe than pornography, since that is not what was asserted.

 

[Suudy]

I find it ironic that someone so involved in telling others how immoral they are has a history of being a sexual predator, no matter what age he was.

Do you have the same disdain for former drug addicts? Porn addicts? Alcoholics?

Perhaps he has conquered those demons. Maybe not.

And why should we think he hasn’t since there’s no evidence that he’s committed the same crime?

Either way, he’s in no position to talk about morality.

Why not? He knows better than anyone else the demons he’s conquered and the devastating affect they can have on others.

 

[Suudy]

To what rehabilitation are you referring?

Has he re-offended?

 

[Galnextdoor]

Yes, of course I would hope the girl who was awake received counseling. And I seriously doubt that happened given what I posted earlier about the quiverfull movement. As for the other girls, do you really believe they weren’t impacted by the knowledge that their brother had touched them inappropriately while they slept? This is what I don’t get about so many comments here. Youthful indiscretion is one thing. Fondling girls without their consent crosses an entirely different line. And I’ve yet to hear that he or they received adequate (or any) counseling.

According to the police report, he was sent to a Christian ministry counseling program where he spent 4 months. The father thought he received counseling and performed hard labor. The father said he thought it was legitimate because it was in the same building as a police department.

The thing about Arkansas is that they have these “Christian Counselors” who receive certificates to counsel people on things of a religious nature. Although these people advertise that they do marriage and family counseling from a Christian perspective, they are not licensed health care professionals. People often get them confused for the real deal.

 

[gracepoole]

According to the police report, he was sent to a Christian ministry counseling program where he spent 4 months. The father thought he received counseling and performed hard labor. The father said he thought it was legitimate because it was in the same building as a police department.

The thing about Arkansas is that they have these “Christian Counselors” who receive certificates to counsel people on things of a religious nature. Although these people advertise that they do marriage and family counseling from a Christian perspective, they are not licensed health care professionals. People often get them confused for the real deal.

Michelle later acknowledged to police that he hadn’t gone to any camp but instead was sent to live with a friend and help remodel a house. He did not receive counseling.

 

[gracepoole]

Only if the “actual molester” was still an active molester. There’s zero evidence that he is.

You have a very interesting view of “recovery” from being a molester. Unfortunately, so do the Duggars.

Thanks for the advice. But I can speak for myself and what I see people post. I’m not pretending to speak for others.

I’m aware that you can speak for yourself. I wasn’t, however, speaking to you. Nor do I think it wise to speak in defense of comments made by others. You can carry on in whatever manner you wish.

But let’s not pretend people think what he did is less severe than pornography, since that is not what was asserted.

There’s no need to pretend – that’s exactly what was asserted. This is why you probably should let that poster speak on his or her own behalf.

 

[Galnextdoor]

Michelle later acknowledged to police that he hadn’t gone to any camp but instead was sent to live with a friend and help remodel a house. He did not receive counseling.

That is what someone said she said. I’m just going by the actual police report.

Also, it is possible that they thought the man was an actual licensed counselor when they sent Josh to him. It’s possible that they found out later that he was not a licensed mental health provider. They have “Christian Counselors” in Arkansas who are not licensed counselors. In the police report it says that the father thought he was receiving counseling at this place.

 

[Havard]

I think in terms of this aspect of things that it’s a question of audience awareness. People are less likely to listen to and trust someone regarding morality whom they come to find out has acted immorally.

I wouldn’t put it in such general terms of having acted immorally. Because who hasn’t acted immorally?

For example, women who’ve had abortions or former drug abusers are often some of the most compelling speakers on those issues.

No, I think the problem arises when you don’t address your own sin first, before focusing on the sins of others. Pope Francis identified himself in his first interview as a sinner. And that’s why he’s so credible. If you want to moralize, speak the truth, but talk about the things you struggle with first before the things other people struggle with.

 

[Havard]

That is what someone said she said. I’m just going by the actual police report.

Also, it is possible that they thought the man was an actual licensed counselor when they sent Josh to him. It’s possible that they found out later that he was not a licensed mental health provider. They have “Christian Counselors” in Arkansas who are not licensed counselors. In the police report it says that the father thought he was receiving counseling at this place.

Yeah that was me. It was in this CNN story:

cnn.com/2015/05/22/politics/josh-duggar-molestation-2016-conservatives/

 

[Sarcelle]

It’s amazing how nonchalant some people are about ostracizing their own children.

What if you had a son who was molesting your daughter? What would you have done? if you let him stay, he will still have access to his victim. Even with counseling he may relapse again. Your daughter will be the one to pay the price. What then?

 

[Sarcelle]

What a silly question. Nobody is suggesting that molestation is okay, and it is still wrong if it involves members of the same sex. What we are suggesting, though, is that it is entirely possible to move on from the scars of childhood and live a wonderful, holy life. It seems that Josh Duggar is doing exactly that and that deserves admiration rather than condemnation. If we let our past sins define who we are today, our world would be even messier than it already is.

Do you actually believe in the Cross? Like, really, really believe? I do, and I’ve lived it, and that’s why it is easy for me to feel joy at the way that our Lord helps people move on from the torments of sin and become instruments for His mercy and love.

With God’s grace, victims of crime can move on, heal and forgive.

What I find offensive, is the rather flip response of “Be humble and take up your cross.”. We should not trivialize the pain and suffering of the victims. Instead of rather flip platitudes, we can say we will pray for divine healing of the victim.

A lot easier said than done.

 

[Galnextdoor]

Yeah that was me. It was in this CNN story:

cnn.com/2015/05/22/politics/josh-duggar-molestation-2016-conservatives/

When you read the police report, there is an incident where Josh removed a blanket from his sister. In the report that is one of the times that Josh said that he deliberately touched his sister. His sister said she thought he was just taking the blanket off of her and did not realize he deliberately touched her.

 

[gracepoole]

That is what someone said she said. I’m just going by the actual police report.

No, she admitted this to police.

 

[Galnextdoor]

No, she admitted this to police.

I wonder why that is not in the police report?

Also, as they are a very patriarchal family, it would have been the father who made the arrangements. He said he thought he was sending him to a Christian Ministry for counseling and hard labor.

 

[gracepoole]

I wouldn’t put it in such general terms of having acted immorally. Because who hasn’t acted immorally?

For example, women who’ve had abortions or former drug abusers are often some of the most compelling speakers on those issues.

No, I think the problem arises when you don’t address your own sin first, before focusing on the sins of others. Pope Francis identified himself in his first interview as a sinner. And that’s why he’s so credible. If you want to moralize, speak the truth, but talk about the things you struggle with first before the things other people struggle with.

Sorry, that’s what I meant. When one seems to have hidden an immoral past and then speaks about moral issues, the public usually finds him or her to be untrustworthy. I can understand why the Duggars didn’t spread this news – out of respect for their daughters if no one else – but they might have exercised caution or prudence when speaking about morality given what they knew was in their closet.

 

[gracepoole]

I wonder why that is not in the police report?

I think it is.

Michelle told police, according to the report, “it was not really a training center. Det. [Darrell] Hignite asked if the guy [redacted, Josh] talked to was a certified counselor. She said no. She said it was a guy they know in Little Rock that is remodeling a building. Det. Hignite asked if the guy was more of a mentor. She said “kind of.”

** EDIT: The above is on pg. 30 of the police report.