Posted on 05/22/2015 2:22:18 PM PDT by Morgana
I do not know why they both declined to be the attorneys of record. To avoid having their names attached to defending the accused so as not to appear to condone or excuse the behavior, or be a target? Because they felt sorrier for the girls than Josh? Because they found out the case was more complicated than on the face? I don’’t know...
As a Conservative I have to say that I am pretty angry at the elder Duggars for making Conservatives look bad. If you are going to parade your huge family on the stage year after year, touting sexual purity, and chaperoning on “courting” dates, and waiting until engagement to hold hands, and waiting until marriage before kissing much less sexual intercourse, then you had better be able to stand up to scrutiny. I loved the Duggars. I agree with modesty and self-control. But having your dating children over age 18 chaperoned so they won’t even kiss a member of the opposite sex before marriage now seems a little ridiculous seeing as they could not chaperone their own son in their own house.
If the Duggars had lived in the days of the Judges, I fear their story might have become a cautionary tale of what not to do with your family and of the dangers of vanity and pride. I see some echo’s of the story of Eli the priest who would not reign in his out of control sons in the first book of Samuel. The sons caused much destruction in Israel and the Ark of the Covenant was wrenched out of Israel’s control until David brought it back into Jerusalem years later. Yet, God can bring the Duggars back,(just like David after his mistakes) humble and wiser, though maybe not as famous as before! God has integrity and isn’t shy about publically disciplining his children if they won’t receive discipline privately!
Flipping channels an hour or so ago, the guide read that “19 Kids” was on — but instead it was “The Little Couple”...so wifey and Iknew straightaway that the axe had fallen.
actually, true justice would be served if TLC dropped programming in its entirety...beginning with ‘Say Yes to the Dress’ and ‘Long Island Medium’...two shows that apparently exist for the sole purpose of showing people weeping incessantly...
Keep in mind that Gothard never married...rather odd for someone who made family life the center of his teaching. It's clear now that he stayed single because he liked them young, and his work was a method of having his pick of naive girls he personally brainwashed.
Yes, Gothard has denied committing any sexual abuse or harassment. That's one denial versus thirty-four accusations.
It more than "casts a shadow". That's like the Duggars' excuse that Josh made youthful mistakes. Gothard is a greasy old predator of young women.
"I have met and talked with Gothard, and have been very impressed with what I have seen and heard from his ministry. I have seen people’s lives totally transformed for the better - leaving immorality, drugs, etc. That however will not excuse any behavior that was sexual to these girls. I hope and pray the truth does come out regardless of whether he is exposed or vindicated."
You could have a nice conversation with any criminal, but it wouldn't mean much.
Gothard's teachings aren't Biblical. He created them himself with an eye toward victimizing girls. If anyone's life has been transformed, it was because they met Jesus Christ in spite of Bill Gothard. He himself has no power to transform.
“If anyone’s life has been transformed, it was because they met Jesus Christ in spite of Bill Gothard. He himself has no power to transform.”
Agreed.
I’m going to reserve judgment on the accusations against Gothard. I am not going to defend him, but I am not ready to believe accusations he molested young girls based on what I have seen so far.
“That’s one denial versus thirty-four accusations.”
I have only seen one girl making accusations of something actually sexual. If the other 33 are merely saying he held their hands, stroked their hair, or even played footsie under the table, that is troubling but not sexual molestation.
Whatever those girls have to deal with in the future can be laid at the feet of their brother and their stupid parents.
"Be a good feminist"
I'm not a feminist, actually...I don't have any use for them. But neither am I a doormat. Do you really think a woman has to be a feminist to recognize the sickness of some teenaged boy who sticks his hand under a five year-old's dress?
All your ranting and raving about ohhhhhh, you want to put Josh in the stocks, ohhhhhh, the hatred for the Duggars, ohhhhhh, tie a stone around his neck accomplishes nothing, other than serving up a healthy portion of Sunday drama.
Honestly, I don't know what should be done to punish Josh. As far as I can tell, he never received any punishment at all. His parents knew exactly what he was when they accepted the offer of a TV show, and they put themselves out there, portraying themselves---and Josh---as moral arbiters. If they'd had any sense, they would have realized the truth would eventually come out.
This is what happens when people base their lives on the teachings of a corrupted man--a cult leader---instead of Biblical Christianity. Yes, the queers and the leftists are having a field day with it...again, blame the Duggars.
No, a 6 year old doing it is yawn worthy. Not a 14 year old doing it with 4 of his younger sisters repeatedly. You sure you’re a doctor?
yes, and I used to do a lot of sexual abuse exams...and this is trivial.
I had understood that he was touching them, not having intercourse. And often kids from strict religious families are naive and psychologically immature about sex.
In most cases, families just disciplined the kid and no one would report it.
Finished. What do you want to do? Put him in jail?
Teenagers do a lot of inappropriate things that are now immoral or illegal, but most parents just try to stop the kid and make him or her understand it is wrong. Finished.
The law is a blunt instrument to stop every little thing...Court cases are very traumatic to kids, and not just for the guilty party. Even in real abuse cases, i.e. repeated forced intercourse, the courts try to get a plea bargain so the abused child doesn’t have to go through the trauma of testifying in court.
The real problem is when ADULTS prey on kids. There is a lot of this out there.
Ten percent of teenagers in the US have had intercourse below age 14. In gay boys, and in poor areas, it is much higher.
so unless this 14 year old grew up to be a serial rapist of little girls, I wouldn’t get too upset about it.
The Gothard cult for me is a separate issue that I have not looked at. I will do so over time.
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