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

[Colorad007]

So you’d happily let Josh Duggar babysit your kids, because the charitable course of action is to assume he has overcome? You would take that risk yourself?

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I can’t believe this. You seem to be either minimizing Josh’s behavior as essentially a normal variant of teenage sexual behavior, OR insinuating that other posters have engaged in similar behaviors.

“Childhood sexual experiences” should be an oxymoron. Unfortunately, it’s not. But I’m disgusted to find this kind of abuse apology on a Christian message board.

Sorry, can you point to where I minimized sexual abuse or said that it was normal? Of course sexual abuse is a very serious evil and it should be rigorously avoided, prevented, and stopped. But the idea that a 14 year-old boy who does such a thing is beyond healing or forever branded as a deviant or a prevent because of what he did as a child is a morally sick idea, and, no, it certainly isn’t Christian. I’m not sure where you come down on all of this, so I’m not pointing a finger at you, but I do think that the best response is to thank God for helping Josh Duggar and his family move past the trauma of abuse.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Sorry, can you point to where I minimized sexual abuse or said that it was normal? Of course sexual abuse is a very serious evil and it should be rigorously avoided, prevented, and stopped. But the idea that a 14 year-old boy who does such a thing is beyond healing or forever branded as a deviant or a prevent because of what he did as a child is a morally sick idea, and, no, it certainly isn’t Christian. I’m not sure where you come down on all of this, so I’m not pointing a finger at you, but I do think that the best response is to thank God for helping Josh Duggar and his family move past the trauma of abuse.

No one wants him forever branded. We’re just disgusted that no one sought help for him or took any steps whatsoever to protect his victims.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

The seriousness of the crime is the deciding factor?

Then I guess women who had abortions should be barred from childcare. After all, they murdered young children.

Yes, it most certainly is the deciding factor. There are some jobs that people cannot have because of their criminal background. A child abuser can’t work with children, a druggie can’t work in a pharmacy, etc.

Currently, abortion isn’t a crime.

 

[Suudy]

Wow. Well, you are super trusting. Nope, 13 years isn’t long enough for me. I also wouldn’t allow my children to be babysat by other criminals, either.

How long then? 20 years? 40? Never?

 

[pianistclare]

No one wants him forever branded. We’re just disgusted that no one sought help for him or took any steps whatsoever to protect his victims.

Exactly.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

How long then? 20 years? 40? Never?

Never. I would never allow my child to be babysat by my abuser. People who abuse children can’t work in daycares and they have cameras and other people there, why would I allow a known child abuser, of any kind, to babysit my kids alone? That’s insane.

 

[Colorad007]

Yes, I likely would. I have a 5 year old daughter and 2 year old boy. If he were a family friend for the last 13 years, and this came to light, I wouldn’t be worried. He’s 27, married, acted stupidly and immorally when we was 14, and there’s no evidence there’s been any repeat offenses.

How many years does an admitted sexual molester have to be “clean” before they can be trusted? Apparently 13 years isn’t enough.

I would probably feel more comfortable with my daughter at the Duggars’ than I would at a house where pornography is used.

 

[Suudy]

Yes, it most certainly is the deciding factor. There are some jobs that people cannot have because of their criminal background. A child abuser can’t work with children, a druggie can’t work in a pharmacy, etc.

A current child abuser can’t work with children. A current druggy can’t work in a pharmacy. But never? I know a couple of people who now have their PharmD’s that heavily used drugs during college. I guess they shouldn’t have been allowed to graduate and become pharmacists.

Currently, abortion isn’t a crime.

Ah, so the government decides what crimes are serious enough to bar involvement in certain professions and situations. So, the government chose not to pursue the case against JD, so it must not have been a crime. Since the government is competent enough to make a decision about abortion, why not in JD’s case?

 

[Suudy]

Never. I would never allow my child to be babysat by my abuser. People who abuse children can’t work in daycares and they have cameras and other people there, why would I allow a known child abuser, of any kind, to babysit my kids alone? That’s insane.

Ah. So redemption during our lifetimes for certain crimes isn’t possible?

 

[Havard]

theblaze.com/contributions/the-duggars-arent-hypocrites-progressives-are/

A good response to the situation.

Liberals are politicizing this, but so is that author.

I don’t like that response at all.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

I would feel a lot more comfortable with my daughter at the Duggars’ than I would at a house where pornography is used. That’s for sure!

Wow, that’s twisted. Most people don’t just pop in a porno while the kids are playing, at least I don’t know of any sickos like that. I do know that the Duggars allowed their son to molest their daughters. I think I would be more comfortable with the house that has a porn stash.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

Ah. So redemption during our lifetimes for certain crimes isn’t possible?

No. People are sitting in prison right now for life. Some people have more than one life sentence. Some are on death row.

Would you want a rapist to be your wife’s OB/GYN? Would you want a druggie handling your meds in the hospital? Would you seriously want your child’s teacher to be a child abuser?

 

[masondoggy]

Yes, I likely would. I have a 5 year old daughter and 2 year old boy. If he were a family friend for the last 13 years, and this came to light, I wouldn’t be worried. He’s 27, married, acted stupidly and immorally when we was 14, and there’s no evidence there’s been any repeat offenses.

How many years does an admitted sexual molester have to be “clean” before they can be trusted? Apparently 13 years isn’t enough.

Never. Ever. Ever. I would never take the chance with my daughter’s innocence. That kind of damage cannot ever be undone.

Thank you for demonstrating my point. It is arrogant of the social sciences to think they are the only means to help rehabilitate a 14 year old guilty of molesting his sisters.

Well, I’m a believer in evidence-based science. The mental health field has come a long way in the past 50 years in it’s ability to treat various sorts of mental illness. Is the system perfect? No. but there has been significant progress.

The statistics speak for themselves regarding the rehabilitation rate for sex offenders. The #'s are not good. We cannot afford to mess around and take chances with a 13 year old child molestor and hope that work punishment, prayer, and mentoring is going to get that kid on the right path. That’s just playing with fire, imo. To me, that’s like telling a type I diabetic to just go exercise and lose weight and they’ll be cured. No. They need medical treatment because they have a medical disorder. Running laps isn’t going to shock their pancreas into working properly.

Prayer, hard work, and repentance isn’t going to magically make Josh Duggar’s deviant sexual urges magically go away.

 

[Suudy]

Never. Ever. Ever. I would never take the chance with my daughter’s innocence. That kind of damage cannot ever be undone.

Because you are presuming it would happen again. I believe, until I see evidence otherwise, that JD has repented and is reformed. Apparently you and others do not.

Well, I’m a believer in evidence-based science. The mental health field has come a long way in the past 50 years in it’s ability to treat various sorts of mental illness. Is the system perfect? No. but there has been significant progress.

You aren’t addressing my point. My point is that psychology and psychiatry are not the only means of rehabilitating people. If the system isn’t perfect, then perhaps we should look at other methods as well?

The statistics speak for themselves regarding the rehabilitation rate for sex offenders. The #'s are not good. We cannot afford to mess around and take chances with a 13 year old child molestor and hope that work punishment, prayer, and mentoring is going to get that kid on the right path.

Again, thanks for demonstrating my point. Despite the 50 years of advancement, the numbers, as you say, “are not good.” It is arrogant to assume that the psy’s are the only means to rehabilitate.

But then again, as you said above, you would “Never. Ever. Ever.” trust someone with a history of abuse. So no matter how far it has advanced in the last 50 years, or might advance the next 50 or 500 years, it won’t be enough.

Prayer, hard work, and repentance isn’t going to magically make Josh Duggar’s deviant sexual urges magically go away.

I never claimed it would, only that it could. Or that perhaps he’d outgrown them?

Why not take the Catholic both/and approach? Rather than dismiss mentoring, church counseling, prayer, and other means, why not include them as well?

 

[BlueEyedLady]

At the very least, we’ll probably be spared any more interviews from Jim Bob about how his insular, controlling nature isn’t about his ego, but rather, it’s about protecting his girls from men who would take advantage of them.

 

[Suudy]

No. People are sitting in prison right now for life. Some people have more than one life sentence. Some are on death row.

“No” there cannot be redemption? Or “No” you aren’t saying there cannot be redemption?

Would you want a rapist to be your wife’s OB/GYN? Would you want a druggie handling your meds in the hospital? Would you seriously want your child’s teacher to be a child abuser?

I know pharmacists that were druggies in college. And I’d gladly have them fill my prescriptions now. My wife knew druggies in nursing school. And she’s not concerned about the quality of care they provide now. And if a rapist were an Ob/Gyn and they’ve been an Ob/Gyn for the last 13 years with no incidents, I wouldn’t be concerned.

So, just because somebody 13 years ago as a 14 year old abused his sisters, and has no history of repeating such behavior, does not mean I would reject them as a babysitter or teacher.

 

[Cake_or_Death]

I would probably feel more comfortable with my daughter at the Duggars’ than I would at a house where pornography is used.

That did it for me, I’m out folks. This is just…Wow. Pornography is worse than molesting your sister. I can’t work out if I want to laugh or cry. Probably more the latter.

 

[Suudy]

At the very least, we’ll probably be spared any more interviews from Jim Bob about how his insular, controlling nature isn’t about his ego, but rather, it’s about protecting his girls from men who would take advantage of them.

Do you have any opinions that don’t involve reading Jim Bob’s mind or heart?

 

[Suudy]

That did it for me, I’m out folks. This is just…Wow. Pornography is worse than molesting your sister. I can’t work out if I want to laugh or cry. Probably more the latter.

Is he STILL molesting his sister today? What is the guy with the porn stash doing today?

 

[masondoggy]

Because you are presuming it would happen again. I believe, until I see evidence otherwise, that JD has repented and is reformed. Apparently you and others do not.

You aren’t addressing my point. My point is that psychology and psychiatry are not the only means of rehabilitating people. If the system isn’t perfect, then perhaps we should look at other methods as well?

Again, thanks for demonstrating my point. Despite the 50 years of advancement, the numbers, as you say, “are not good.” It is arrogant to assume that the psy’s are the only means to rehabilitate.

But then again, as you said above, you would “Never. Ever. Ever.” trust someone with a history of abuse. So no matter how far it has advanced in the last 50 years, or might advance the next 50 or 500 years, it won’t be enough.

I never claimed it would, only that it could. Or that perhaps he’d outgrown them?

Why not take the Catholic both/and approach? Rather than dismiss mentoring, church counseling, prayer, and other means, why not include them as well?

This is going around in circles. We disagree.