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

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I think attacking the (false) theology of the duggars and relating it to what happened is as disingenuous as anti Catholics using the abuse scandals to talk about our sexual theology as well.

Have we learned nothing by going through this ourselves?
I am not sure the theological issue is so much the quiverfull theology as much as it is the extreme patriarchy. The problem with daddy holding all the cards is that there is the potential for abuse of power if daddy is not sufficiently humble. It is not 100% clear that there was abuse of power, but there are certainly enough clues to reasonably argue for the abuse of power.
 
I am not sure the theological issue is so much the quiverfull theology as much as it is the extreme patriarchy. The problem with daddy holding all the cards is that there is the potential for abuse of power if daddy is not sufficiently humble. It is not 100% clear that there was abuse of power, but there are certainly enough clues to reasonably argue for the abuse of power.
There are plenty of patriarchal accusations against our own faith.

I see a lot of stones, and a ton of glass houses on this thread…
 
I am not sure the theological issue is so much the quiverfull theology as much as it is the extreme patriarchy. The problem with daddy holding all the cards is that there is the potential for abuse of power if daddy is not sufficiently humble. It is not 100% clear that there was abuse of power, but there are certainly enough clues to reasonably argue for the abuse of power.
When you are an adult and your dad watches your Skype dates and still monitors your text messages, I’d say that there is an abuse of power. I’m glad I’m not his daughter, I would have been kicked out years before I became an adult.
 
people.com/article/josh-duggar-molestation-accusations-duggars-respond

I struggled with whether or not to post this link. Ultimately maybe I wanted a platform for discussion through a Catholic lens, not a the bevy of Facebook messages like, “Oh, you like family/their show? Ooh… Guess what?”

I want to avoid the schadenfreude of those who revel in gossip and any bad news surrounding public figures.

Ugh. What horrible news. However, it does appear to me the family is being transparent about this situation. As well, they did go to the police. Josh Duggar did reveal what he did before proposing to his wife Anna. Things can happen in any family. Not trying to justify the events. By nature it is easy for me to give benefit of the doubt.

Okay. Talk amongst yourselves while I get over some shock and vicarious sadness for the family.
People actually watch this stuff? :confused: Reality shows are a malignant neoplasm on the body of television. :mad: They have been for at least 15 years now, or whenever Survivor first came on the air. Thank goodness for Netflix and Amazon Instant Video–and DVDs!
 
There are plenty of patriarchal accusations against our own faith.

I see a lot of stones, and a ton of glass houses on this thread…

Well – when outsiders see Catholics put the “Duggars” and their extremist “Gothard” lifestyle on a pedestal and now try to “soften” in any way/form the extremism and perversity that has been at the “heart” — wouldn’t that give the idea that Catholicism and the “Duggars/Gothard” are all in the same boat.
 

Well – when outsiders see Catholics put the “Duggars” and their “Gothard” lifestyle on a pedestal and now try to “soften” in any way/form the extremism and perversity that has been at the “heart” — wouldn’t that give the idea that Catholicism and the “Duggars/Gothard” are all in the same boat.
You forget that the heart of Catholicism is mercy and love, not judgment and condemnation. We cannot know all the dynamics of what happened and what was in Josh’s mind and what his parents believed would help him. We can’t judge without evidence/proof nor can we denigrate anyone for any reason. Merely saying that there may have been mitigating circumstances cannot be taken as approbation for skewed beliefs and a lack of action to prevent/amend the abuse that took place. A person can commit grave sin without being fully culpable. I’m not defending reprehensible behavior nor the “women are our servants” attitude so prominent among the sub-culture within Evangelicalism, but neither can I take it on myself to judge when I don’t have all the facts nor am I in the position of doing anything about it.
 
I think attacking the (false) theology of the duggars and relating it to what happened is as disingenuous as anti Catholics using the abuse scandals to talk about our sexual theology as well.

Have we learned nothing by going through this ourselves?
Are you claiming that because some members of the Church’s hierarchy sheltered and moved abusive priests, Catholics should never point out when pedophiles in other faiths are protected rather than prosecuted?
I am not sure the theological issue is so much the quiverfull theology as much as it is the extreme patriarchy. The problem with daddy holding all the cards is that there is the potential for abuse of power if daddy is not sufficiently humble. It is not 100% clear that there was abuse of power, but there are certainly enough clues to reasonably argue for the abuse of power.
YES. The problem comes when a religious culture (cult) requires complete submission by women to the point that men can and do perpetrate actual crimes against women without any consequence.
There are plenty of patriarchal accusations against our own faith.

I see a lot of stones, and a ton of glass houses on this thread…
That doesn’t mean that these accusations against the Church are warranted or legitimate. And it doesn’t mean they aren’t warranted or legitimate in other religious cultures. Claiming that we’re all in glass houses means no one can ever criticize pedophiles. Surely you don’t mean that?
 

Well – when outsiders see Catholics put the “Duggars” and their extremist “Gothard” lifestyle on a pedestal and now try to “soften” in any way/form the extremism and perversity that has been at the “heart” — wouldn’t that give the idea that Catholicism and the “Duggars/Gothard” are all in the same boat.
Lucky for you you must not meet any of the Catholic haters I do. They make no distinction. And I think it is giving their objections too much credit to try to differentiate the two. Bottom line, we would not appreciate the link being made in our own faith. Lets at least extend the same courtesy to the Duggars, who are aligned with the Church on some major issues. One being the pro life movement. If your intent is to accuse the Duggars of being a patriarchal led, religious family who has counter cultural views on sexuality and provides it’s own brand of education to the children. Well, I am sorry but you are describing our own faith as well. The media, and the general public will not make the distinction. I liked the show. I appreciate the values. Many of them I share. I am saddened that they, like the Church, have fallen to the stain of sexual abuse allegations. I find it odd that some on this thread have refused to learn from our own experiences with this subject. From the extreme of defending the duggars to the extreme of attacking and blaming their religious beliefs for this tragedy. We OF ALL PEOPLE should know better.
 
There are plenty of patriarchal accusations against our own faith.

I see a lot of stones, and a ton of glass houses on this thread…
There are patriarchal accusations of course, but we don’t teach that daddy should monitor their adult children’s texts, do we? Are we to refrain from criticizing others who put their behavior in public for criticism because someone might criticize us? If we don’t debate what the ideal role of a father is, how will we ever find out the answer?
 
Lucky for you you must not meet any of the Catholic haters I do. They make no distinction. And I think it is giving their objections too much credit to try to differentiate the two. Bottom line, we would not appreciate the link being made in our own faith. Lets at least extend the same courtesy to the Duggars, who are aligned with the Church on some major issues. One being the pro life movement. If your intent is to accuse the Duggars of being a patriarchal led, religious family who has counter cultural views on sexuality and provides it’s own brand of education to the children. Well, I am sorry but you are describing our own faith as well. The media, and the general public will not make the distinction. I liked the show. I appreciate the values. Many of them I share. I am saddened that they, like the Church, have fallen to the stain of sexual abuse allegations. I find it odd that some on this thread have refused to learn from our own experiences with this subject. From the extreme of defending the duggars to the extreme of attacking and blaming their religious beliefs for this tragedy. We OF ALL PEOPLE should know better.
This is what I find most worrisome – because the Duggars share some values that align with Catholicism, people are reluctant to actually identify what’s happened here as illegal, immoral, and sinful. People here HAVE learned from the Church’s sex abuses crisis – that’s why we’re unwilling to minimize what’s happened here or look the other way because some of the Duggars’ values are laudable.
 
You forget that the heart of Catholicism is mercy and love, not judgment and condemnation. We cannot know all the dynamics of what happened and what was in Josh’s mind and what his parents believed would help him. We can’t judge without evidence/proof nor can we denigrate anyone for any reason. Merely saying that there may have been mitigating circumstances cannot be taken as approbation for skewed beliefs and a lack of action to prevent/amend the abuse that took place. A person can commit grave sin without being fully culpable. I’m not defending reprehensible behavior nor the “women are our servants” attitude so prominent among the sub-culture within Evangelicalism, but neither can I take it on myself to judge when I don’t have all the facts nor am I in the position of doing anything about it.

Sorry Della – there is enough evidence that the 5 young girls were expendable/were thrown under the bus – to protect the Duggers “golden boy”.
 
I think attacking the (false) theology of the duggars and relating it to what happened is as disingenuous as anti Catholics using the abuse scandals to talk about our sexual theology as well.
Considering that two of the people who most informed the Duggar theology–Bill Gothard and Doug Phillips–have disgraced themselves through sexual misconduct, I think it’s fair to say that there’s some level of correlation.
 
Are you claiming that because some members of the Church’s hierarchy sheltered and moved abusive priests, Catholics should never point out when pedophiles in other faiths are protected rather than prosecuted?

YES. The problem comes when a religious culture (cult) requires complete submission by women to the point that men can and do perpetrate actual crimes against women without any consequence.

That doesn’t mean that these accusations against the Church are warranted or legitimate. And it doesn’t mean they aren’t warranted or legitimate in other religious cultures. Claiming that we’re all in glass houses means no one can ever criticize pedophiles. Surely you don’t mean that?
Are you claiming that because some members of the Church’s hierarchy sheltered and moved abusive priests, Catholics should never point out when pedophiles in other faiths are protected rather than prosecuted?
Nope. And if that is what you thought I said then I have done a poor job communicating the thought. I apologize for my lack of writing coherently. 🤷 It is the best I could do. But that you saw that in the writing means that I failed. Sorry.
YES. The problem comes when a religious culture (cult) requires complete submission by women to the point that men can and do perpetrate actual crimes against women without any consequence.
Though I disagree with the point. I think that this is a valid point of view to have. And if it were limited to this one point and Jim Bob protecting his son over his daughters I think it is not that much of a stretch. The problem is that many, even on these boards, cannot separate a traditional mindset and a brand of patriarchy from extremism. Not all people who share the same beliefs of the duggars are wrong or evil or are asking what you are accusing of men and women.
That doesn’t mean that these accusations against the Church are warranted or legitimate. And it doesn’t mean they aren’t warranted or legitimate in other religious cultures. Claiming that we’re all in glass houses means no one can ever criticize pedophiles. Surely you don’t mean that?
No, I do not mean that. Again, I must have done a poor job communicating this for you to make this jump. Perhaps you could point out what exactly you are misunderstanding that would give you that impression. Or it could be that you wish to argue against a perceived “side” that I do not particularly share. I think we can all agree that the Duggars have false beliefs, and that sexual abuse that occurred was horrible. And that Jim Bob made some horrible decisions against his daughters in favor of his son. And that is the point. If one wishes to be a patriarch and subscribe to that type of lifestyle, one must accept responsibility for the failures of that leadership. Jim Bob failed as a father in protecting his children. And he was reckless with their lives in his decisions to broadcast the most intimate times of his family for 10 years. One could argue that is abuse in itself in light of the skeleton that was in that closet. IT was for sure risky with the lives of his family and poor judgement. But does any of that have to do with the faith they have? No more than an all male priesthood abusing boys has to do with our faith. Would that more families lived like the duggars. But please, lets go on deciding how we should pastorally handle SS"M" and Adulterous families all while receiving communion in bikinis…:rolleyes:
 
This is what I find most worrisome – because the Duggars share some values that align with Catholicism, people are reluctant to actually identify what’s happened here as illegal, immoral, and sinful. People here HAVE learned from the Church’s sex abuses crisis – that’s why we’re unwilling to minimize what’s happened here or look the other way because some of the Duggars’ values are laudable.

Agree.
 
A new item at In Touch, which broke the story, starts to provide answers to where child protective services was when law enforcement was told about the molestation:
Police referred the matter to the Families in Need of Services agency, which has jurisdiction over minors. The Department of Human Services (DHS) was then brought into the case, In Touch has learned. Nine months after those agencies entered the Duggar molestation case, Josh Duggar sued the Arkansas Department of Human Services. A trial was held on August 6, 2007.
The results of the investigation into the Duggars and Josh’s trial are sealed. But a source familiar with the Duggar investigation told In Touch it was likely that Josh “appealed the DHS decision or finding from their investigation.” The source notes that DHS had the authority to apply “restrictions or stipulations about him being at home with the victims.
“Josh would be considered an in-home offender, giving DHS the authority to do an investigation. As part of your appeal rights you can request a DHS hearing to challenge what they found and their ruling.”
The Duggars are refusing to comment on the intervention by either department and Josh’s trial against DHS. They also are refusing to say if their family was monitored by a state agency after the 2007 actions and forced to undergo counseling by a licensed mental health professional.
An earlier article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette confirms that investigators had “filed a ‘family in need of services’ affidavit with Washington County Juvenile Court,” and that one of their reporters had discovered the “sealed Washington County Circuit Court file for Josh Duggar vs. the Arkansas Department of Human Services” in 2007, which noted that a “trial in that case took place Aug. 6, 2007.”

So, child protective services was contacted by police and did get involved and made some kind of ruling that the Duggars did not like like. They appealed the decision, which resulted in a trial, the outcome of which is unknown.

It’s impossible to say exactly what happened here, but it appears that child welfare intervened on behalf of Josh Duggar’s victims, and he and his parents used their wealth and influence to undermine that decision.
 
A new item at In Touch, which broke the story, starts to provide answers to where child protective services was when law enforcement was told about the molestation:

An earlier article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette confirms that investigators had “filed a ‘family in need of services’ affidavit with Washington County Juvenile Court,” and that one of their reporters had discovered the “sealed Washington County Circuit Court file for Josh Duggar vs. the Arkansas Department of Human Services” in 2007, which noted that a “trial in that case took place Aug. 6, 2007.”

So, child protective services was contacted by police and did get involved and made some kind of ruling that the Duggars did not like like. They appealed the decision, which resulted in a trial, the outcome of which is unknown.

It’s impossible to say exactly what happened here, but it appears that child welfare intervened on behalf of Josh Duggar’s victims, and he and his parents used their wealth and influence to undermine that decision.
Big suprise…$$$$$$$ talks and holds a lot of power
 
A new item at In Touch, which broke the story, starts to provide answers to where child protective services was when law enforcement was told about the molestation:

An earlier article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette confirms that investigators had “filed a ‘family in need of services’ affidavit with Washington County Juvenile Court,” and that one of their reporters had discovered the “sealed Washington County Circuit Court file for Josh Duggar vs. the Arkansas Department of Human Services” in 2007, which noted that a “trial in that case took place Aug. 6, 2007.”

So, child protective services was contacted by police and did get involved and made some kind of ruling that the Duggars did not like like. They appealed the decision, which resulted in a trial, the outcome of which is unknown.

It’s impossible to say exactly what happened here, but it appears that child welfare intervened on behalf of Josh Duggar’s victims, and he and his parents used their wealth and influence to undermine that decision.
Somebody pointed out on another forum that josh was married right after this in 2008…which makes ya wonder if the ruling they didn’t like was that josh had to be removed from the house.
 
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