Josh Duggar probably thought his statement was as appropriately-worded as he — or an agent — could make it. But there is no good way to admit to molesting five girls. He appeared to do some damage control, talking a lot about how he is a changed man.
“Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. 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. ”
His parents came next, calling his actions “mistakes.” They even found something positive about five girls being molested: they got closer to God.
“Back 12 years ago our family went through one of the most difficult times of our lives. When Josh was a young teenager, he made some very bad mistakes, and we were shocked. We had tried to teach him right from wrong. That dark and difficult time caused us to seek God like never before.”
“Even though we would never choose to go through something so terrible, each one of our family members drew closer to God. We pray that as people watch our lives they see that we are not a perfect family.”
its sad how people are blatantly debunking josh duggar's case from being a crime just because he was 15, rape is rape.
— $$ (@mochazourry) May 24, 2015
And Josh’s wife Anna has known about this. It must have been creepy for Josh to admit on her first visit to his home that he molested five girls, some of whom were his sisters. Again, she characterizes it as a “mistake.”
“When my family and I first visited the Duggar home, Josh shared his past teenage mistakes. I was surprised at his openness and humility and at the same time didn’t know why he was sharing it. For Josh, he wanted not just me but my parents to know who he really was – even very difficult past mistakes.”
Just because Josh Duggar "prayed" makes his actions ok?!?!
— Ashton Hulbert (@ashtonvictoria_) May 24, 2015
Critics of Josh and the rest of the Duggar clan say that, while he was young, what he did should have been dealt with differently. But more than anything, they feel that the public stance of the Duggar family against LGBT folks, with Michelle Duggar even calling them “child predators” lends a karmic flavor to the current woes of the 19 Kids and Counting franchise.
Hey #JoshDuggar, being gay isn't a choice, but molesting children is.
— Atheist Tweeter (@Atheist_Tweeter) May 22, 2015
Some say that it is outright hypocrisy for the Duggars to pass moral judgment on a whole group of people while knowing they had unacceptable behavior by any standard right in their own home. It was a matter of he without sin casting the first stone while living in a glass house.
"don't kiss before marriage"
"homosexuality is a sin"
*molests sisters and other girls*
#CancelTheDuggars #JoshDuggar
— hanna (@dixandchix) May 22, 2015
So Huckabee will defend you for child molestation but demonize you for being gay? Just making sure I understand this right #DuggarScandal
— RagingTeabagger (@RagingTeabagger) May 23, 2015
so gay marriage is a threat to society but molesting your own sisters is cool cause you know God forgives #JoshDuggar pic.twitter.com/viEmsTN53K
— mango (@lunarnomad) May 22, 2015
Gay marriage & using birth control is unforgivable & immoral but sexually assaulting your sister's is not #joshduggar
— Sarah Dennie (@sarah_dennie74) May 22, 2015
The Duggars & their child molester supporters make me ill.
— Baenerys (@Auragasmic) May 23, 2015
Sorry, @TLC, but if you're going to cancel Honey Boo Boo for just associating with a child molester, you have to #CancelTheDuggars now.
— Slay-Z (@MsAmandaAsh) May 22, 2015
now i need to ask the world, who's more disgusting?
A. me, as a homosexual?
B. @joshduggar, as a child molestor?
— Will Shepherd (@shep689) May 22, 2015
Josh Duggar claims he has "gods forgiveness" but is also anti-gay for religious reasons. So gays will go to hell but child molesters won't?
— alexis isabel (@lexi4prez) May 22, 2015
#CancelTheDuggars oldest son is a molester- and the parents are at his defense. sick.
— Feminist Culture (@feministculture) May 22, 2015