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

[Colorad007]

You are correct that we should not necessarily label someone so young. But we should not sweep it under the rug either and say it is a mistake. Having at least four victims seems to indicate to me that he at least he had a problem at that time. And we do know that people who commit these sexual acts and become predators as adults don’t just start in adulthood. That’s why if they are caught, we should at least ssend them to therapy (although maybe the family did do that for Josh, we don’t know).

It seems odd that we don’t expect a 14 year old to know the consequences of his actions. This is such a weird case, because this 14 y old was put him in authority over his sisters by his parents, so he had some sense of right or wrong. I do not buy the whole “boys will be boys” excuse. We try to tell non-christian young men that they can exercise self control, why then do we excuse it for christian ones?

So a 14 year-old.porn addict, as plenty are, is just a phase but a 14 year old abusing younger girls can never be healed? I’m not equating the two entirely, but they are much closer than you think.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

Actually, no. Because.“sex offender” can mean anything from “she said she was 16” to something that happened when they were children themselves. And of course those people.don’t worry me. Besides, most abuse happens in families or by close friends and relatives. So even if my neighbor was a “predator” he would not have the kind of access to my daughter he would need to do something awful.

I was friends with the step-daughter of my neighbor who molested me. You shelter your kids so much that they don’t play at friend’s homes? Are you saying my parents are to blame because a neighbor that they knew for years and went on trips together had access to me?
Insanity.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Duggars go down in flames. Next, someone will claim the tooth fairy does not exist…

Where have all the cowboys gone?

 

[Colorad007]

The thorough vetting of figures who influence policy is *always *our business as the public.

So you are concerned that his Republican allies might have caught his coodies, is that it, Darryl? Give me a break.

 

[TMC]

I got to disagree here. Almost every 14 year old boy, including me, spent a lot of time trying to “Cop a feel” It isn’t right, it is not behavior that should go unchecked it is behavior that should be corrected, but the story of Josh, whatever happened, should serve to give pause to all parents who blindly send their kids off to youth groups and retreats and are not intricately involved. Honestly, this should be a warning to others, Now, I am going on the idea that incest/incest actions were not involved.

If it was indeed a family member that was abused… I just cannot apply the same logic to it. Perhaps it is my own revulsion.

At first I thought TLC should cancel, but now I am thinking that there needs to be at least one more show detailing what happened. All of this redacted reports and “statements” on FB are just a bunch of bunk. Man up, look the camera in the eye and come clean…
Then, Jim Bob needs to apologize first and foremost to his family for doing this TV thing, and then to the rest of the viewers who have followed them. Like I said before that is some moxie if you had some skeletons that big in your not too distant past and then chose to be one of the biggest reality TV shows for 10 years. Seriously? How many interviews or covers of people magazine was this family on? And it is just coming up now? And it is when Josh makes moves in the arena of politics? Odd.

Meanwhile, Bill Clinton is tied to a child molester who owns an island and Hillary will be the next prez, but if you mention that, you are just a bitter republican.

If you read the redacted police reports (available on line), two things are unfortunately obvious. One, at least some of the victims were his sisters. Two, at least one of the victims was very young.

Something else that I have not heard discussed - it looks like someone with knowledge of the incidents emailed TLC back in 2006 to warn them that the Duggars were hiding the fact that one of their children had molested someone. In fact, based on the timeline, it may be that the email to TLC is what prompted Jim Bob to finally talk to the police.

I agree that it is odd and suspect that this is coming up now, but that does not take away from the seriousness of the acts - including the parent’s reaction and TLC’s apparent knowledge of the situation.

 

[Colorad007]

Duggars go down in flames. Next, someone will claim the tooth fairy does not exist…

Where have all the cowboys gone?

Only Christ and His Mother escaped the stain of sin. If you want perfection from a public figure, you are going to be disappointed. Life here on Earth is marked not by perfect moral purity but by the sweet mark of redemption left by the Blood on the Cross. The rest of the world won’t see that, but if Christians do not then woe be to us.

 

[Galnextdoor]

It is very sad and disheartening. What I don’t understand is, he was 14 and 15 years old when this took place, how did this become public information? Also, how old were the girls? If they were close to his age, perhaps this is simply a publicly confessed sin and not a criminal molestation matter. I have watched this family and feel that they are painfully honest and naive. I saw them at a public gathering one time, and they seemed like a wholesome, loving family. I hope that all the girls involved received counseling, as well as, Josh. They will all need prayers as the media tries to turn this into a three ring circus.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

If you read the redacted police reports (available on line), two things are unfortunately obvious. One, at least some of the victims were his sisters. Two, at least one of the victims was very young.

Something else that I have not heard discussed - it looks like someone with knowledge of the incidents emailed TLC back in 2006 to warn them that the Duggars were hiding the fact that one of their children had molested someone. In fact, based on the timeline, it may be that the email to TLC is what prompted Jim Bob to finally talk to the police.

I agree that it is odd and suspect that this is coming up now, but that does not take away from the seriousness of the acts - including the parent’s reaction and TLC’s apparent knowledge of the situation.

Do you have a link to the actual report? Many of these news sites are circular in their confirmations on this story.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Only Christ and His Mother escaped the stain of sin. If you want perfection from a public figure, you are going to be disappointed. Life here on Earth is marked not by perfect moral purity but by the sweet mark of redemption left by the Blood on the Cross. The rest of the world won’t see that, but if Christians do not then woe be to us.

Not perfection, but just the common sense that if you have a police report of sexual abuse that may involve your siblings, stay out of politics…

Unless you are a democrat, then it will probably get you votes.

 

[Havard]

I don’t know anything about Josh Duggar outside of this article. Never seen that show. But molestation is the most extremely serious business, and both the abuser and the abused need to get help (different kinds of help, of course.) Are the girls getting professional help?

As for Josh, I’m not condemning his soul, but I am extremely concerned about his propensity to repeat. Has he been thoroughly vetted by psychologists over this? If not, he should be. There is no reason not to.

@Kendra: I didn’t know about the abuse. I’m so sad to hear it, but at the same time, I’m inspired by your righteousness. Keep on crusading my friend.

 

[Yeoman]

I have never, ever cared for that show and never watch it. It is all about exploitation and money. It is like a contest to see how many babies that they can make. In this situation I sort of blame the parents because it makes sex and baby-making an occupation rather than a blessing. MY opinion and I am entitled to it.

I’ve always thought that the most interesting thing about the show (which I also don’t watch) is that so many women (and the audience is almost all female) are devoted followers of it, when all it really does is to depict really bland domestic life.

That’s really worth noting. I know, for example, professional women who are devoted followers of the show, including professional women who live unconventional lives. The fact that the show has such diehard female following, in this day and age in which feminist have altered society to “free” it from such pursuits, would suggest that, in our heart of hearts, the old concerns and desires, that we supposedly don’t have any more, remain fully there.

Granted, this comment doesn’t address the Josh story at all, but as I really don’t like the show anyhow (again, being male, I find it exceedingly dull even with the females in the house fascinated by it), I can’t really comment. The only thing I would caution is that people may wish to be slow to judge. Given the world outlook of the people involved, it’s perfectly possible that the conduct involved may fall far short of what people suspect. Or not. We don’t know. And that’s a comment from somebody whose wished that they’d disappear from television for eons.

 

[Colorad007]

I don’t know anything about Josh Duggar outside of this article. Never seen that show. But molestation is the most extremely serious business, and both the abuser and the abused need to get help (different kinds of help, of course.) Are the girls getting professional help?

As for Josh, I’m not condemning his soul, but I am extremely concerned about his propensity to repeat. Has he been thoroughly vetted by psychologists over this? If not, he should be. There is no reason not to.

@Kendra: I didn’t know about the abuse. I’m so sad to hear it, but at the same time, I’m inspired by your righteousness. Keep on crusading my friend.

Actually, recidivism among child sex abusers is extremely low.

 

[DakiniArtist]

Lots of experience with child molestation, unfortunately. Much of it as a professional, working with victims and offenders.

I have to wonder if Josh himself was not a victim. None of us have all the details and anything would be speculation. I hope that the families involved have taken positive actions, i.e. not shaming the victims, allowing everyone to seek help, etc.

Having the experiences I’ve had in my life, including being a victim myself, I cannot condemn Josh or the family. I just don’t have all the details. We had someone close to us recently, a child himself, offend. This is just such a sad situation. A boy touching girls while they sleep is awful and not normal and speaks to perhaps someone close to the Duggars being an offender to their family.

I’m from an area with many faithful Christian families who are sheltered and insulated from society. The naïveté of the children and their parents can be astounding. The result is they wear the “Hey, come victimize me!” banner on their foreheads. They can be so easily led into Bad Things.

Unfortunately, this is another wound to people of faith. So many people were just gleeful in emailing and Facebooking this story to me. “See??? See what hypocrites you people are?” I can’t even be on social media today, as my “friends” are enjoying slamming this “judgmental” family. It’s tough to process. It is only adding to my gloominess and my growing spiritual loneliness among my friends, family, and acquaintances.

The Internet crucifies. Warhol should have said, “In the future, everyone will have their fifteen minutes of public flogging.”

(See pbs.org/newshour/bb/social-media-led-renaissance-public-shaming/ for more on this.)

A cross-section of the population, without all the details, is your judge, jury, and executioner. One false step, and people you don’t know are out for blood, with your address, workplace, and children’s information is out there for the quick finding of some keyboarding and Zabasearch.

My husband is fond of saying (and he’s a computer programmer) that Internet will be our downfall as a society. Libraries and endless knowledge at our feet, and yet we use this powerful tool to murder others in spirit.

Let’s be clear, I am not defending what Josh did. I am saying I don’t have all the information, but this situation is awful, all the way around. I believe the family is handling it with grace and aplomb. I will not rush to conclusions or condemnation. I say this as someone who has had her share of sexual assault. I have two children who are the products of rape, date and marital. (Not current hubby!) I have family members who were abused. I have family members who are perps.

Prayers to everyone.

 

[Darryl_Revok]

So you are concerned that his Republican allies might have caught his coodies, is that it, Darryl? Give me a break.

Not necessarily. But it’s apparent that up until now, he has represented a certain strain of moralism, and has used his position and influence to lobby political figures. If he’s going to advocate for morality, then it’s absolutely essential that he has moral authority. Otherwise, it renders him a joke, and has the potential to taint his associates with his hypocrisy.

Do *you *think he’ll ever be seen on the same stage as Walker or Rubio again?

 

[KendraDZ1902]

I don’t know anything about Josh Duggar outside of this article. Never seen that show. But molestation is the most extremely serious business, and both the abuser and the abused need to get help (different kinds of help, of course.) Are the girls getting professional help?

As for Josh, I’m not condemning his soul, but I am extremely concerned about his propensity to repeat. Has he been thoroughly vetted by psychologists over this? If not, he should be. There is no reason not to.

@Kendra: I didn’t know about the abuse. I’m so sad to hear it, but at the same time, I’m inspired by your righteousness. Keep on crusading my friend.

Thanks, buddy! I just keep on keeping on!

 

[Darryl_Revok]

Do you have a link to the actual report? Many of these news sites are circular in their confirmations on this story.

Here’s the actual report. Halfway down the page.

 

[Havard]

Actually, recidivism among child sex abusers is extremely low.

Glad to hear, but I’m still in favor of a comprehensive psych eval.

 

[SuperLuigi]

I just hope you learn what “celebrating perversion” means, because being on his side definitely doesn’t help the victims and it does seem like it is celebrating perversion when you side with the person who did the perversion.

Considering he was 14 when it happened, I’d say he does need allies, and he’s got one with me.

Society may like to make a big deal about this type of situation, but I wonder what God would say about such a society that glorifies abortion and so-called gay “marriage” and all the excuses people use to support them—as in which are the graver sins?

 

[Suudy]

It just hurts when people think a certain amount of years passing makes it all better.

If this is in reference to my comments, note that I never said such a thing. I don’t control your feelings, the feelings fo the Duggar girls, or other victims of molestation. So, no, I don’t think “a certain amount of years passing makes it all better.” And in my experience, though not molestation but other traumatic family events when I was a child, time has not made it better.

It doesn’t. Sometimes it makes it worse because you want the pain/embarrassment/fear to go away and expect that one day it will. 18years in and I still feel the same.

See below, CatholicSheila speaks to this directly.

I think it is a true crime against victims to tell them they can’t move on. It tells them they have to be victims for the rest of their lives. Every time I hear a new case about sexual abuse that happened 50/40/3/20 years ago “ruining my life” I want to shake the woman. The man didn’t ruin her life. She ruined her life because she let the abuse be such a defining characteristic of it. It also goes against Christianity. We are told to forgive. We’re not told to forgive ‘if it’s easy’. There is no qualifier. We are to forgive, full stop. I believe that is as much for our own benefit as it is the benefit of those who sinned against us. Carrying the sins others have committed against us around our entire lives, never letting go, the anger and the hate… it ruins ones life. I know. I’ve been there.

…

I am sorry you haven’t been able to move on. You are wrong to assume that just because you haven’t yet means that no body can however. Plenty of women do. We just don’t talk about it non stop because there is no need. It’s over. I hope and pray that one day you can move on. The peace that comes with it is priceless.

This. Every persons process in healing and coping is different. Just because you (KendraZ) haven’t “moved on,” doesn’t mean that the Duggar girls have not. I understand you don’t believe that they have, since it appears you think the Duggar parents are controlling. But you can’t speak for them. You can only speak for yourself. And all we have to go on is their reported position.

So, the Duggar family has made peace. He appears repetant. Why should a sin someone has repented of, made restitution firm, made a firm committment to never do again, and the victims have “moved on,” forever be used against him? Does grace and forgiveness have no value?

Also, did anyone consider that perhaps Josh Duggar is committed to FRC’s values precisely because of this situation? Perhaps his shame has motivated him to be more committed to happy, healthy families? That is desire to be involved in certain ministries is a way to right his wrongs?

 

[Sophie_Lawrence]

Do you have a link to the actual report? Many of these news sites are circular in their confirmations on this story.

I don’t believe the actual police report has been released.

The “news outlet” that released the story yesterday is called “In Touch Weekly”