Posted on 05/22/2015 4:45:51 AM PDT by MadIsh32
In the wake of a tabloid report alleging that he molested several underage girls while he was a teenager, reality-television star Josh Duggar said Thursday that he “acted inexcusably” and was “deeply sorry” for what he called “my wrongdoing.”
The 27-year-old Duggar, a high-profile member of the evangelical Christian family that stars on TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting,” also resigned his post with the Family Research Council, a conservative lobbying organization.
“Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret,” Duggar said in a statement posted on Facebook on Thursday. “I hurt others, including my family and close friends. I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation.
“We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling. I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life.”
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Hardly. Jim Bob waited over a year before going to police. Even then, he went to a state trooper, not local police. Finally, he sent Josh to some "program" that was not any kind of program at all.
Josh needs professional help and it does not appear he ever received any.
As someone pointed out on another thread, think about what a 14 year old boy is like.
There are young men that age in my kids' school who are my height and weight or bigger, who help out in their family's auto garages and landscaping businesses, who captain sports teams, who play on traveling leagues and argue political positions on high school debate societies.
The Duggars sent the abuser to live away from home for months to work in construction, for example.
This is not a 9 year old kid playing doctor with another 9 year old.
This is a 14/15 year old and a 9/10 year old sister.
At that age he knows exactly what he is doing (he waited until his parents were asleep and crept into his victims' room), is assumed to be responsible for many adult and quasi-adult things, and is much bigger and stronger and able to impose his will.
The behavior is learned... so, where did he learn it?
A teenager of 14 years will have had many influences. I’d say it’s impossible to track down unless he talks.
If you don't want people to find out that you are raising a predator, there are many things you probably shouldn't do.
Among them:
(1) Don't make a nationally televised reality show about your family.
(2) Don't run for Congress.
(3) Don't encourage the predator to become a lobbyist for a high profile conservative group.
The Duggar household seems like a bad ideas factory.
Hard to say.
We do know his family associated with two other known predators: Bill Gothard and Jim Hutchens.
Ugh. Sick and sad.
As someone who was sexually assaulted as a child, I would absolutely be beside myself to have that information made public by the media. Especially since I know it has nothing to do with me as a victim and everything to do with targeting and destroying a family they hate. To be disregarded and used in that way, is another form assault, IMHO.
She (Lena Dunham, not her sister) was seven when the incident occurred. Hard to call it "molestation." 14 is worlds away, in terms of development, etc.
You make a very important point.
The good that can come out of it is that there be greater scrutiny on this offender, who is still living in a home with minor children present.
Ive never bought into the FRC.....always seemed too hucksterish Jim Jonesish to me.
I worry for the victims being further victimized by the media releasing this. They (victims) didn’t ask for this.
The Parents made the platform for this to occur (public figures), Josh committed the molestation, and his victims did nothing wrong.
I hope that the public knowledge doesn’t further pile on the pain and grief that those girls have already experienced.
I agree.
From AR link, “Juvenile court records are not public records and are not subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act.”
BUT, this was NOT a Court Record and Josh was NOT in the Court System.
(I still believe that the media releasing this was not NICE to the victims and is further abuse. Yes, without their public persona, the MSM wouldn’t be digging and frothing.) That is the PARENTS horrid decision making. Young victims can’t “forgive” or be expected to even make decisions like that and should not have to be around the abuser. I hope they had proper counseling. We don’t know.
http://acic.org/citizens/Pages/victimsInfo.aspx
Arkansas Crime Information Center
You sure you want to take that definitive a position for all situations? That word ‘forgiveness’ in the Bible essentially means that once asked for and received, it’s as if the sin itself never happened. To not believe this is to assume that Hebrews 8:12 doesn’t exit….. “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” If God chooses to not remember it ever again, then on what grounds should people remember it? Frankly, I think it is entirely appropriate that sinners who have repented from their sins be given a public platform…. After all, we are all sinners and there is something about ‘casting that first stone’ (John 8:7) and that was in reference to a prostitute. Frankly, there is nothing more refreshing than listening to a forgiven sinner praising and thanking God in public for saving him from the hell that we all deserve.
There are two other Bible verses that come to mind in this discussion and they are very important for all to understand…. Matthew 6:14 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 King James Version “15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
I tell you what my problem with Josh Duggar’s response…. I’m not interested in hearing that “he acted inexcusably, that he is extremely sorry, has deep regrets and that he confessed it to his parents”. Where does forgiveness have to come from and was there any reference in that speech that it was asked for and he believes that he has received it? That’s what was missing…. not a solitary reference to God and that is where forgiveness has to start. All of what he said was fine but what would actually have meant something is if he said “I am so thankful for 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I asked for that forgiveness from God, I believe his promise that I’ve been forgiven. Pray for me…. James 5: 16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Those are the comments that would have meant something. There is also the issue of timing….. all of the above should have been stated a long time ago. It’s one thing to proclaim your confession at the time it happens….. it’s quite different when one is exposed after the fact and one is forced to ‘own up’ as opposed to doing it voluntarily. This is what is so disingenuous about this.
Wrong. She abused her for years, starting when Lena was 6 and her sister was 1. Their dad was some kind of a pornographer so there’s no telling what she witnessed and was trying to copy.
Yes, even in the midst of forgiveness, I will not put a molester in a public position. It is not fair to the congregation. As Jesus said, there are wheat and there are tares. They aren’t sorted out until the harvest. There are wolves who will attempt to deceive the flock, and the shepherd must be vigilant.
If I’m dealing with a Christian who has received the forgiveness which you reference, they will be the ones who recognize the wisdom with which I speak. They will realize that it is the omniscient God who has forgiven them, and that fallen humans must be vigilant for we are easily deceived.
Honestly, hecticskeptic, would you as manager of a business put a convicted embezzler in charge of your books? Even if they’ve paid for their crime, it is not fair even to them to place that temptation before them.
Why should a church not be at least that vigilant given that we are not omniscient.
Mama June from Honey Boo Boo (who decided to place her children around the SEX OFFENDER that molested her oldest, after he got out of prison, which led to the cancellation of Honey Boo Boo on TLC) is threatening to SUE TLC if they don’t take off the Duggars.
IMHO, the Duggars should cancel their own show and not wait for TLC.
I have never watched the Duggar show but have relatives who live in the same area as them. My first or 2nd trip back there the relatives insisted on driving by their house and showing me where they live. My answer was...who?
The Duggars are celebrities of the area. Last time I was there there was a sighting of one of them by a cousin of mine at Hobby Lobby or some such place.
Maybe now this nonsense, worship of the Duggars will stop.
I haven't seen any stories that refer to the "abuse" going on "for years." But to call it "abuse"--when, by your own account, it occurred "when Lena was 6"--is a stretch.
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