The comments are disturbing and show just how far we have to go.

Here's another link, including statements from both Josh and his mother, Michelle.

Josh Duggar Apologizes After Child Molestation Allegations Surface
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/21/josh-duggar-apologizes-child-molestation_n_7417688.html

They all want to hang him. I think people need to look at themselves. We have all sinned.

A big reason people want to hang him is because he runs an anti gay hate group.http://boingboing.net/2015/05/21/conservative-christian-anti-ga.html

I have to say, I am disappointed in some of the comments posted in the other thread on this topic because they fail to grasp the fact that this was not some Romeo / Juliet crime committed. The guy was fondling children when they were asleep for crying out loud, and he continued to do so even after he was busted and thus, he certainly portrays himself as being a predator. The fact he was 14 when this happened does not negate the fact of what he did in light of what is being reported. And the fact the adults concealed his crimes and used the church to aid and abet this, is unconscionable.

I'll tell ya...the first report I read this morning indicated his parents reported it to the police and got him and the girls into counseling. It was only as the day went on and more details emerged that it became clear that the parents did not actually get help for him or the girls and that they did not go to the police. It's sad that it wasn't handled properly and is therefore haunting the entire family now.

i've read some 1/2 dozen of the reports and a butt load of different comments on this 'breaking news'.

what got to me was all the people that were willing to tar and feather whoever leaked the story. that this person who squealed had no right and should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves for outing him, because he's a "good christian" who has repented.

there were those that said that this was one huge sordid mess, that it wasn't right that it was covered up, that he was a pervert, that he should have been arrested, that tho his parents, his wife and himself all made posts to comment and to explain it all away. to talk off gods goodness and his forgiveness, that nothing was said about the victims and how they have fared.

it was amazing and really, it crawled up my ass that there were so many people who immediately jumped to defend josh, simply because he was a "dugger".

and yet? they are the same people who would jump to immediately condemn any of us, whether we were 'the abuser' or if we are a supporter of an abuser.

people and thier hypocrisy truly make me sick!

I SO agree. The problem is that in the state these people live in, the statute of limitations was only 3 years. The parents quite successfully hid the problem until that limit was past and nothing could be done.

This is the way things used to be handled. When these things occurred, they were handled in the family. The state turned a blind eye most of the time. That is not true now. 2006 is actually quite a long time ago in terms of how the way these cases are handled has evolved. To those of us who have suffered from being in the grip of the SO laws and the registry, it is incredulous that this guy got away with harming children and did not suffer the same kinds of consequences.

What the Duggars did was legal, although certainly not right. With their show being cancelled and their reputation and clean, healthy people ruined, they will pay the consequences now.

@LegalGuardian I'm sorry you are disappointed in some of the comments in other threads. As I said in one of them I can't fault the Duggars for how they handled this. You're upset because the adults concealed the offending and "used the church to aid and abet" the concealment. I have to disagree with that. Did they go to their church for help and advice? Yes absolutely and the advice was apparently to not report anything to the authorities.

Does it make what they did "right"? No but as parents I'm sure they felt the responsibility to protect ALL of their children and their family. Not just the offender or just those he victimized or just those he didn't victimize but ALL of them offender and victims included. You may not like how the Duggars handled it but do you honestly believe it would have been better to turn Josh Duggar over to the authorities? Realistically that was the only other choice as even just seeking professional help would have resulted in reports being made. A choice that would have inevitably led to charges against Josh, his conviction, for all practical purposes his permanent removal from the family and a life as a registered citizen. Ask the parents here which choice would they make, knowing what they know now. Ask them if they find the choice the adult Duggars made unconscionable. I doubt you'll find many, if any, that would agree it was unconscionable.

At the same time I'm sure you'll find many that are angry with the hypocrisy of the politicians and Duggar supporters. I'm also sure you'll find others that are saddened because none of the victims or even Josh himself received the care and treatment they should because we live in a country where there were no good choices that could have been made. Keep it in the family away from the authorities and maybe just maybe the family survives and there are no more victims or report it and sacrifice a son to the State to appease the authorities. That's what's really unconscionable.here. Forcing parents to make that kind of choice.

I have to agree with Aladdin and Amy (and others) - although I think that back in the day when things were handled like perhaps the victims got the short end of the stick it illustrates that these are usually family matters and can be handled as such. The interesting thing I see is that they did go to the police and the police helped instead of hurt them. It will be interesting to see whether the LE actions will be questioned.

I know that people think that sex crimes are more prevalent today than in the past - they are not - it is just that back in the day things were handled in family. Makes sense becasue most of child molestation occurs in the family..

Other things were different in the past also - when I was 4th grade (around that anyway) which would have been 68-or 69 a man approached called to me from a car and asked directions - I got closer (did not get close enough for something bad to happen and I approached the passenger side not sure why but instinct told me to) - as I got closer I saw he was naked from the waist down - I shouted Gross! and ran. He drove away - I told my mom - she told me I did the right thing and that was that - today there would be an all out man hunt for the flasher - things are just different as we all know

"I know that people think that sex crimes are more prevalent today than in the past - they are not - it is just that back in the day things were handled in family. Makes sense becasue most of child molestation occurs in the family.."

Very well said Advocate.

@aladdin -- As Echo pointed out, "they are the same people who would jump to immediately condemn any of us, whether we were 'the abuser' or if we are a supporter of an abuser."

If you are going to preach a particular message then you had better live that message if it comes knocking at your door and yet, in this case, the Duggar family and their church quickly and conveniently side stepped things to conceal criminal acts.

As I said before, this was NOT some Romeo / Juliet criminal act committed. Rather, this was Josh Duggar molesting his sisters and other children by fondling them -- some of whom were sleeping -- and he continued to engage in such with the church, his family, and the state trooper turning blind eyes to the law and the needs / rights of his victims. And yet, he would have us hail him as a hero because he "repented" and apologized. Give me a break!!

No one is hailing him as a hero. People who believe in Jesus are just as flawed individually as anyone and the humble people in their sects readily admit that. The only difference to them is that they are believing they are forgiven. I agree with Huckabee that it is inexcusable but that doesn't mean it's unforgivable.

We all here know that people can and do change. Many times, once an abuse is known, and abuser knows how their actions affected their victim, they no longer offend. Josh Duggar is no different than Josh Gravins. Both committed an offense against family members. One family knew how this would affect their son for the rest of his life and chose to deal with it within the family (which, rest assured many other families do too). The other family sought help and a mandated reporter informed authorities. Both are remorseful for their actions. Both have turned their life around.

So why do we attack Josh Duggars? Because we may not agree with his politics? What if this caused him to look at how he attacks the LGBT community. Sometimes, seeing things from a different perspective changes it. My perspective have changed in so many areas after going through this mess with hubby.

How about we stop casting stones at him and his family. How about we discuss WHY his parents tried to hide this, and why the victims don't wish for charges to be pressed. How about we discuss how this publicity is possibly affecting the sisters.

http://madworldnews.com/duggar-girls-victimized/

I agree with Thought - first of all I agree that it was handled within the family as is done in many others I am sure of that. He has a public face and we have dealt with that before. The fact that his parents KNEW to hide it shows that folks are becoming aware of the truth on many levels. Out of this whole story the thing that bothers me the most is that the LE actually helped him -