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

[Havard]

Unfortunately, some folks like to hold onto a grudge and hold something over someone else so they can constantly feel like they are owed something.

And as a couple of other posts implied, this is being used as cannon fodder to try and discredit FRC in order to promote so-called gay “marriage”. This isn’t about justice or getting victims of sexual abuse help; this is about an agenda-- and a very anti-Catholic one at that.

What do folks think the headline would have been if JD was a chief consultant for the Clinton 2016 campaign? Or a senior member in the Obama Administration?

What if he were gay?

Really, the jig is up.

Nonsense.

I’m tired of this politicization of everything. I just want to see children protected, as I’m sure most do. If this guy were gay or a Dem, everyone knows I’d say the same thing.

 

[Colorad007]

Thank you Darryl. Too often on the internet people are asked for sources and they either provide them an no one acknowledges it or they don’t. You posted exaclty what I wanted to see. I have nothing to add because if true, this is disgusting. And as a parent in a largeish family, I could not imagine what my response would be to this. But I do know that it would not be to sweep it under the rug, and exploit my family further on TV. This has too be absolutely damaging for the sisters involved as well. Right now I cannot imagine their betrayal and pain.

I am an avid fan of the show. My wife and kids love it and we have had parties for the weddings and such. We have seen every episode. No more. And my kids will wonder why we don’t watch anymore. I guess we just tell them that it had some bad things in it and move on… Honestly I don’t get too involved with reality TV stars but this one has really shaken me…

Why wouldn’t you watch the show if you like it?

 

[KendraDZ1902]

I did a lot of deviant stuff sexually from about 14 to 24. Never once did it involve my sister… Let go. Nope, sorry not on this, I have completely been persuaded.

Disgusting at 14 or 40… And even worse, these sisters have to relive this all in the public eye made possible by josh and his dad. Anyone who has watched the show knows that Josh is the “golden boy” of that family.

:clapping:

This was his SISTERS, y’all. And it was kept hidden. People on here seem to think that some person leaked this and poor Josh, he was just a boy. GAG! His poor sisters, having to live with him and had to keep quiet. Sad. Awful. Deplorable.

 

[SuperLuigi]

“situation???” Molesting your sisters isn’t a big deal and just a situation? This is a grave sin. He forced himself on his SISTERS. Be his ally, that’s on you.

It’s a grave matter, but may not necessarily be a mortal sin in his case. Society and even past victims don’t get to decide that—God does.

Yes, I AM his ally, and I’m quite secure with the company he’s keeping (ie God).

Like I said folks, we need to take this situation head-on.

 

[Suudy]

The examples of Reagan and Obama are public acts done by public figures and entered into the public record. The problem is that Josh Duggar’s offense has heretofore been hidden. For a public figure–and Josh Duggar *is *a public figure–this is a fatal mistake; he hasn’t needed to acknowledge his change of heart because no one knows he’s committed a wrong. A mea culpa issued after a third-party digs up hidden dirt is, by definition, seen with greater skepticism than mere political waffling.

Just because his mea culpa wansn’t made public doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. In fact, it sounds like it did happen at the time. Is there a need for every TV family to air their dirty laundry before the show is broadcast?

And he wasn’t a public figure at 14 or at the time. And at 14, he shouldn’t have been. Are you suggesting that he should have made a public announcement at 14 or 15 years old once he became a public figure? “Oh, by the way, since my parents have put us on TV, and our family is a very religious, Christian family, I should let you know that when I was 14 I molested some of my sisters and other girls. I’m sorry it happened, and it won’t happen again.” Or when he joined the FRC he should have held a press conference with something similar?

If FRC already knew of this, I think FRC caved. If they didn’t I still think they could have handled it better. Rather than speak up and say something like “Josh is a valuable member of FRC Action. He deeply regrets his behavior at 14, and because of that experience he has a deep committment to happy, healty families. It is his committment to families that makes him a great fit for our organization. FRC does not condone ro tolerate such behavior, and Josh is committed to helping strengthen familes so things like this do not happen.”

Of course, if it had been someone at SPLC, PP, or other such left-wing darlings, such a statement would be applauded. But when the FRC or othe right-wing organizations say something like that they are hypocrites, liars, or worse.

 

[LongingSoul]

Unfortunately, some folks like to hold onto a grudge and hold something over someone else so they can constantly feel like they are owed something.

And as a couple of other posts implied, this is being used as cannon fodder to try and discredit FRC in order to promote so-called gay “marriage”. This isn’t about justice or getting victims of sexual abuse help; this is about an agenda-- and a very anti-Catholic one at that.

What do folks think the headline would have been if JD was a chief consultant for the Clinton 2016 campaign? Or a senior member in the Obama Administration?

What if he were gay?

Really, the jig is up.

It’s just not tenable for him to hold a position in an organisation that advocates for family. It’s not about forgiveness or non judgment. It’s about the stain that child sexual abuse leaves on the community. It’s an insidious crime that strikes at the collective heart. Some mistakes haunt you for the rest of your life. That’s just how it works.

 

[QuestLove]

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.

Oh I didn’t say that such a person couldn’t be healed. That’s why I say I hoped his family sought help from him. I just think when it was multiple infractions as is indicated in this case, it’s highly unlikely it goes away on its own. Just the same way if I have a 14 y o with a porn addiction (in fact any addiction) I would make sure that they get help

 

[Mary_Estelle]

My understanding of the article is that the father caught the son coming out of the daughter’s bedroom.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

Nonsense.

I’m tired of this politicization of everything. I just want to see children protected, as I’m sure most do. If this guy were gay or a Dem, everyone knows I’d say the same thing.

:clapping:

Gay, straight, boy, girl, GOP, Dem…it doesn’t matter. You. Don’t. Molest. Your. Siblings.

 

[SuperLuigi]

=Hoosier Daddy;12991031]I did a lot of deviant stuff sexually from about 14 to 24. Never once did it involve my sister… Let go. Nope, sorry not on this, I have completely been persuaded.

Why?

Disgusting at 14 or 40… And even worse, these sisters have to relive this all in the public eye made possible by josh and his dad. Anyone who has watched the show knows that Josh is the “golden boy” of that family.

It’s not relevant if someone finds it disgusting or not. The final point is that he is making amends with God.

 

[SuperLuigi]

It’s just not tenable for him to hold a position in an organisation that advocates for family. It’s not about forgiveness or non judgment. It’s about the stain that child sexual abuse leaves on the community. It’s an insidious crime that strikes at the collective heart. Some mistakes haunt you for the rest of your life. That’s just how it works.

No one is perfect, and what’s interesting is that some of those “mistakes that haunt you for the rest of your life” may be seen quite differently in the eyes of God.

That’s all that matters in the end, not what victims or what society thinks.

EOM.

 

[7_Sorrows]

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.

Yes they definitely need our prayers!

 

[KendraDZ1902]

It’s a grave matter, but may not necessarily be a mortal sin in his case. Society and even past victims don’t get to decide that—God does.

Yes, I AM his ally, and I’m quite secure with the company he’s keeping (ie God).

Like I said folks, we need to take this situation head-on.

14 year olds know better. Period. How are you taking this head-on? You support the abuser and seem to not care about his poor sisters, who he forced himself on. Repulsive. I cannot support him or his parents.

 

[Suudy]

Nonsense.

I’m tired of this politicization of everything. I just want to see children protected, as I’m sure most do. If this guy were gay or a Dem, everyone knows I’d say the same thing.

I know you would say the same thing. You are one of the sane people.

But look at the way Roman Polanski was given a pass.

jezebel.com/5369395/whoopi-on-roman-polanski-it-wasnt-rape-rape
theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2009/sep/28/roman-polanski-arrest-hollywood
edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/09/29/hollywood.embraces.polanski/
huffingtonpost.com/bernardhenri-levy/why-i-defend-polanski-mor_b_583409.html

Not everyone is as sane as you are.

But the realy point here is whether or not Josh Duggar has repented and made amends, and how he should be treated now. Nobody here that is on Josh’s side is defending his behavior at the time. All that we are doing is saying that if he’s repented and made a firm amendment to not do it again (which it appears he has done), and the victims have forgiven him and made peace, why not take them at their word?

 

[Colorad007]

It’s a grave matter, but may not necessarily be a mortal sin in his case. Society and even past victims don’t get to decide that—God does.

Yes, I AM his ally, and I’m quite secure with the company he’s keeping (ie God).

Like I said folks, we need to take this situation head-on.

You can really see post-Puritan America spinning its wheels, can’t you? We treat the Josh Duggars of the world like monsters to make ourselves feel better about being home base for the world’s biggest porn industry, for example. We have to shame someone, after all, as a kind of cultural rite of expiation, and there aren’t many sexual.things left that we don’t find okay–sexual abuse being among them. So we hang a repentant man with the same hands we use to pat ourselves on the back for being so “tolerant” and “broad-minded.” What a truly unfunny joke.

 

[SuperLuigi]

Nonsense.

No, it isn’t.

I’m tired of this politicization of everything. I just want to see children protected, as I’m sure most do. If this guy were gay or a Dem, everyone knows I’d say the same thing.

 

[Darryl_Revok]

Just because his mea culpa wansn’t made public doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. In fact, it sounds like it did happen at the time. Is there a need for every TV family to air their dirty laundry before the show is broadcast?

Not necessarily, but, like I said, he’s a politically-connected figure. The Duggar family’s ambitions and influence spreads far beyond that of your usual reality TV freakshow. If they are determined to hold society and culture to a high standard, then shouldn’t they be subject to the same scrutiny? Especially if they present themselves as role models.

And he wasn’t a public figure at 14 or at the time. And at 14, he shouldn’t have been. Are you suggesting that he should have made a public announcement at 14 or 15 years old once he became a public figure? “Oh, by the way, since my parents have put us on TV, and our family is a very religious, Christian family, I should let you know that when I was 14 I molested some of my sisters and other girls. I’m sorry it happened, and it won’t happen again.” Or when he joined the FRC he should have held a press conference with something similar?

Nothing that melodramatic, but the mere acknowledgement of an issue might have helped. I think it’s safe to say that the way it was handled ultimately didn’t end well.

Of course, if it had been someone at SPLC, PP, or other such left-wing darlings, such a statement would be applauded. But when the FRC or othe right-wing organizations say something like that they are hypocrites, liars, or worse.

I think it’s fair to say that FRC deals in moral absolutes in a way that PP, SPLC, etc. do not. Dealing in absolutes leaves you little room for maneuver when something goes wrong.

 

[Walking_Home]

14 year olds know better. Period. How are you taking this head-on? You support the abuser and seem to not care about his poor sisters, who he forced himself on. Repulsive. I cannot support him or his parents.

---

Ditto.

 

[LongingSoul]

No one is perfect, and what’s interesting is that some of those “mistakes that haunt you for the rest of your life” may be seen quite differently in the eyes of God.

That’s all that matters in the end, not what victims or what society thinks.

EOM.

It might be all that matters at the end of the world on judgement day… but now for people living in this fallen world, protecting children from abuse is top priority. He didn’t receive any legal punishment and wasn’t seen to have received psychiatric treatment. To his victims and to the world, justice wasn’t seen to be done in this case and he seems to have carried on with public life in a shameless way. That does not engender public confidence or trust.

 

[Suudy]

It’s just not tenable for him to hold a position in an organisation that advocates for family.

Why not? Perhaps he is a strong advocate for the family because this happened. Perhaps his shame is driving him to help make for stronger, happier, healthier families.

I think a former drug addict would be an outstanding spokesperson against drugs. And former smokers are great spokespeople against smoking. Indeed, both have been used extensively in the drug and smoking campaigns. Why does his previous sin make him less qualified to speak against abuse in the family?

Some mistakes haunt you for the rest of your life. That’s just how it works.

This is true. And I don’t think for a minute that the backlash against him is contrary to God’s plan. It’s the temporal punishment due to him for his sin. But that doesn’t mean we cannot be channels for God’s grace. Ever read The Shack (not a great book, IMO, but it does demonstrate the principle)? Forgiveness and grace are powerful.