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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsInside the Josh Duggar cover-up
is "counseling" was at a church-run facility
When Josh, then 15, confessed to his parents in March 2003, Jim Bob, now 49, and Michelle, now 48, did not go to the police. Instead, Jim Bob turned to church elders, who agreed Josh "needed to be put into a treatment program," according to a 2006 investigation prompted by an anonymous tip. The teen spent four months doing manual labor at the Institute in Basic Life Principles Training Center in Arkansas. Founded by Bill Gothard (himself accused of sexually harassing female employees in 2014; no charges have been filed), the program promises to "find success by following God's principles."
An officer pushed aside his confession
Though Josh claims he turned himself in to "authorities" in 2003, he received nothing more than a "very stern talk" from a family friend, state trooper Joseph Hutchens. Police reportedly believed the statute of limitations had expired by 2006, and did not pursue criminal charges. (Shockingly, Hutchens himself is now serving 56 years in prison for child pornography.)
The victims did not press charges
Josh wrote May 21 that he "sought forgiveness" from his victims. Trained to be "helpmeets" to men, the girls complied. Indeed, the 2006 report has been expunged at the behest of the one still-minor victim.
The rumors fizzled out
In 2006, producers of The Oprah Winfrey Show canceled the family's appearance after receiving an anonymous email about Josh's sexual misconduct. Harpo execs forwarded it to Arkansas' Department of Human Services, resulting in the 2006 investigation. Commenter "Alice" recounted this incident in an online forum, posting in 2007 that Josh "has been molesting his sisters." Unable to provide proof, she was shot down.
Their fame shielded them
TLC stood by 19 Kids (and its 3 million weekly viewers), even airing a marathon the night the scandal hit. On May 22, the network pulled the show, still wishing its stars well: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and victims." It remains to be seen if their wholesome rep can be saved.
http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/television/television_news/2015/05/inside_the_josh_duggar_cover_up
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)This is a terrible picture to paint for women, it says to me it is okay to be abused by men, it is supposed to happen. It is never acceptable for abuse like this. Hillary has advocated for women's issues for a very long time, all over the world. A woman should have the ability to make decisions and not under the gun to be submissive to others.
Tree-Hugger
(3,370 posts)They are taught that being a woman means you submit to men. You submit everything - your will, your choices, your body. Don't feel good and want to avoid sex? Too bad - if your husband wants it that night, you need to submit because Jesus. Besides, it is the woman's fault for having hair, breasts, curves, ankles, and whatever else a man finds attractive. It's her fault for causing him to have those feelings and now she needs to submit.
They are taught their worth is tied to their purity and their modesty. How do they feel about themselves now that their brother violated them? We'll never know because they were taught their opinions don't matter.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)and that is a big part of the reason I loathe religion.
tularetom
(23,664 posts)But I'm not sure what Hillary Clinton's advocacy of women's issues has to do with it. Has she specifically commented on the duggar scandal? I don't think she has, and I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for her to do it. At least, not until her media gurus, focus group testers, and advisors tell her it's safe for her to speak out on the matter.
underpants
(182,861 posts)When we read the vows my wife and I cracked up at that word. The preacher was an old family friend and these were the same vows he had used for years so we didn't ask for it to changed. I didn't care anyway -I wanted to drive to Vegas and get married by an Elvis while we were on the west coast (where I proposed) because it's just a wedding. We opted for a overpriced church wedding back in Virginia.
To this day I jokingly bring this up to my wife and she replies with something like "You DO need help you know".
KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)Avalux
(35,015 posts)This confirms for me that the girls, and probably mama Duggar have absolutely no say in anything, they must do as they've been trained.
Horrible.
Gormy Cuss
(30,884 posts)I hope that this scandal will make it easier for one or more of the children to strike out on their own, should they choose.