May 24, 2015 10:27 AM

Josh Duggar: Not perfect, just forgiven...and held to a different standard because of his faith

Supporters rallied around the Duggar family after they admitted to keeping quiet about their eldest son molesting young girls - including his own sisters. Josh Duggar, his wife, and his parents issued statements Thursday confirming reports that he had engaged in “inexcusable” behavior more than a decade ago, when he was 14 years old, and he resigned his job with the anti-LGBT Family Research Council as calls poured into TLC to cancel the long-running “19 Kids and Counting.”…. However, the Duggars’ defenders offered prayers and messages of support on social media…. “This shouldnt even be in the news,” said Stephanie Truesdell in a Facebook comment. “Its not current. Its done, over, and hes been forgiven. None of us, as fans/viewers, whatever, have any need to say anything. It was reported, and its been handeled. Its over.”

I don’t know Josh Duggar from Jeffrey Dahmer, nor do I care about the clown car/vagina that gave birth to him and his (currently) 18 siblings. His opinion- on anything- wouldn’t under any conceivable circumstance be worthy of serious consideration. In America, he’s free to his hypocritical, self-indulgent hyper-religiosity…I just don’t have to pay attention to it. I’d do Lady Gaga impressions naked in Pioneer Courthouse Square in downtown Portland before I’d sit through an episode of “19 Kids and Counting.” What bothers me about Duggar in this instance isn’t his cafeteria Christianity, his hypocrisy, or even his role on what is very likely one of the silliest reality TV shows ever- no mean feat, that- it’s the double standard that comes to the fore whenever very public self-righteous Christians are accused of criminal/immoral behavior.

Duggar was accused of- and has kinda sorta owned up to- inappropriately touching five girls, including family members, dating back to 2002, when he was 14. For reasons as silly as they are irrelevant, Duggar escaped prosecution. There’s more to the story, of course, but the details aren’t what interest me. The accusations, while disturbing, and the lack of prosecution, while unfortunate, aren’t the issues that most concern me about this case. That there’s a glaring double standard at work here among Christians is something I find disturbing if not particularly surprising.

Then again, his family isn’t exactly known for their sober, reflective positions on the issues of the day. Duggar’s sister Jessa once- after walking through the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C.- compared abortion to the Holocaust, and other examples of the family’s hyper-religious, uber-Jesus-y intolerance abound.

The outpouring of love and support for Duggar from fellow Christians has been…disturbing. If Duggar was an atheist, I don’t think it would be a stretch to assume the calls for his scalp would be coming fast and furiously. I could be wrong in that assumption…but I don’t think I am. Too many Christians are quick to forgive and rationalize when the offender is one of their own…but someone outside the tribe could likely count on swift and certain justice in the court of public opinions.

Despite the hypocritical response among fellow Evangelicals, molesting five girls over a number of years is not a “mistake.” It’s a pattern, one that should (and would in most states) result in criminal charges and a felony conviction. Sure, it’s possible that Duggar’s sexual development could have been stunted due to his upbringing (Who could have seen THAT coming?). This would mean that at 14 he simply wasn’t equipped to deal with issues of sex and sexuality appropriately. He was a minor, but even minors suffer consequences for acts of criminal sexual misconduct.

Even many women, whom you’d think would know better and be more sensitive to sexual abuse, are giving Duggar a free pass. Since when do sexual predators get a free pass? Oh, right…when they’re Christians in public life; then their coreligionists are ALL about forgiveness.

This time, neither connections nor piety could save the Duggars from arriving at the intersection of Karma and Schadenfreude. TLC, under considerable pressure, cancelled 19 Kids and Counting. While I’m normally loathe to take enjoyment from the misfortune and/or suffering of others, you’ll have to excuse while I enjoy this moment…perhaps just a wee bit too much. I suppose the lesson to be taken from the Duggars’ downfall is that religion is like a penis; it’s a wonderful thing to have and be proud of, but when you take it out and wave it in people’s faces, you might find that not everyone finds it to be as beautiful, powerful, and awe-inspiring as you believe it to be.

Move along, people. No double standard here….

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on May 24, 2015 10:27 AM.

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