After Josh Duggar confirmed what viewers have long suspected, he also admitted that he has apologized to his victims and has also “asked Christ to forgive me and come into my life.”
But it appears those transgressions are not easily overlooked or forgiven. The Duggars’ show 19 Kids and Counting has been pulled out of TLC’s lineup and some of the family’s public appearances have also been canceled.
TLC pulls ’19 Kids and Counting’ off the air amid Josh Duggar’s admission to sexual misconduct
TLC pulls Duggar family series amid misconduct reports http://t.co/14cDwOaSHi Right/wrong move? pic.twitter.com/YnaetESbYC
— WTHR.com (@WTHRcom) May 23, 2015
While some sectors are unforgiving of Josh’s actions, as well as that of his parents, there are others who are supportive.
Not surprisingly, Jessa Duggar’s father-in-law has been very vocal of his support and has even described Jim Bob and Michelle’s actions (or inaction) as something that “godly parents” do.
Some publications and sites have also pondered on how other parents would have reacted. Would they have been willing to turn over their own children to the police or would they have sought to solve the problem internally and quietly?
But the idea that the family’s belief system might have greatly contributed to the sexual abuse and their way of handling it is why it has been one of the most polarizing points of the issue.
In the Quiverfull movement, which the Duggars believe in and actively promote on their show, women are totally subservient to men. They can never disobey their men even over something illegal and immoral. The fact that women have no control over their bodies when it comes to giving birth is already a disturbing example. Not allowing children to interact with others or preventing them from going to college is mind blowing to many.
Lurid scandals are sadly par for the course in television and among celebrities, but what happened to the Duggar family strikes a deep and disturbing chord because misogynistic beliefs and an environment that fosters sexual abuse should not be tolerated in this day and age.
