Ben Seewald has yet to speak out about the controversy concerning his brother-in-law, Josh Duggar, who recently confessed to molesting five underage girls, one of which was likely Ben’s wife, Jessa Seewald. However, Ben’s parents Michael and Guinn Seewald recently made their feelings about the scandal known in a blog posted on Saturday night.
In the blog post, the Seewalds stated that they not only stand “in solidarity” with the Duggar family, but also say that Josh’s parents, Jim Bob and Michelle should be “commended” for how they handled the situation after Josh confessed 12 years ago to fondling the five young girls, four of which were his younger sisters. (Click here and here to get all of the information on that.)
“I believe that Josh’s parents acted in a way that godly parents should,” Michael Seewald wrote.
“They did not turn a blind eye, but earnestly sought help from the church, counselors, and eventually the police. Maybe they didn’t do it in a way that pleases everyone, but they acted decisively to confront the sin, to call a penitent son back from his errors, and to seek to aid the hurting victims…In their efforts to salvage the wreckage that these transgressions brought, and bring healing to all involved, Jim Bob and Michelle are to be commended,” Michael wrote.
He stated that the Duggar parents were not obligated to share what Josh had done with the public.
“Some people act as if it was the Duggar’s responsibility to have made this sad episode in their family public knowledge,” Michael wrote. “They are to be praised for not hiding this from the appropriate parties and eventually the police, but they owed it to no one else to publicize the sins of a minor child… How many of you would broadcast the sins of your children to the whole world? Would you be willing to publicize your own darkest moments? “
Michael shamed In Touch Weekly for “illegally obtain[ing] a police investigation involving minor children and publish it for whatever nefarious purpose they had in mind.”
The Ashley would like to clarify that the police reports was obtained legally via the Freedom of Information Act. The magazine did not act outside the law by obtaining it, as Michael and many Duggar supporters have been claiming. The police report could have been accessed by anyone who requested it (until Friday, when it was destroyed by court order).
The mayor of Springdale, the city where the police report was filed, confirmed that, while the higher-ups of the Springdale Police Department did not want to release the record, they had no choice but to give it up when it was requested via the Freedom of Information Act by In Touch.
“From every indication I have, the chief and city attorney reluctantly did what they had to do to comply with the state (freedom of information) law,” Springdale Mayor Dough Sprouse stated.
In the blog, Michael basically stated that the media and critics of 19 Kids and Counting have been looking for a Duggar scandal for years (which is true), and now that they have finally got one, they are acting like sharks “in a feeding frenzy” when “there is blood in the water.”
After telling Josh to “hang in there,” Michael encouraged other sexual assault victims to use this scandal as motivation to speak up about their assault.
Michael’s son, Ben, is still following Josh on Twitter, but has removed all mentions of being on ’19 Kids and Counting’ from his Twitter account. He has yet to make a statement regarding the situation with Josh.
To read the Seewalds’ full blog post, click here.
To read all of The Ashley’s posts on the Josh Duggar sex abuse scandal, click here.
(Photos: Facebook, TLC)
24 Responses
FORGIVE.LET IT GO GOD HAS.
In the bible a centurion named Saul was pardoned of all his sins.If Saul had seen your christian daughter when he was young he would have killed her.What happened to Jessa Jill and the other young girls was bad and wrong but they say that they got help so leave it alone . They never said they were perfect they said they love the Lord God who is the only perfection in and out of time. God is not a God of wright and wrong it is about the Just and unjust.Lean to him and he will make you righteous not keep you from sinning sin is a personal choice. Love will always cover a multitude of sin.Love will handle this in his way so that he gets the glory. Duggar family praise God right now in your storm .He is able to do so much more than anyone of you or any comment could ever do. He loves you. Leave them alone they are not God so stop trying to make them God just because they practice modesty. If you have a bible follow that not the duggars.They can only do their best which is imperfection God will never let any of you down. Girls stay forgiving Josh keep seeking Gods face he will Give you the desires of your heart.Duggar momma and daddy fight the good fight of faith the bible says a righteous man falls down several times but it is knowing who to turn back to that determines his heart condition and the overall belonging to and condition of the soul. Talk to Him Duggar family He is there to help.In Jesus name we pray for the duggar family expose all hurt pain guilty acts Lord and afterward make them as pure gold. The refiners fire never feels good but the end results is beauty for ashes
what was the point of them making a statement?? their daughter-in-law was more than likely molested by her brother and THIS is what they come up with? disgrace
I think the Seewald’s statement is meant mostly for their daughter in law. That family is sinking fast. Everything they banked on is gone in a flash. Jessa is pregnant, her husband really has no marketable skills outside of married to a Duggar and working for Jim Bob. Jessa needs family support now. As for Josh, thank goodness he married a ninny like Anna! (she’ll goofy smile with her glazed over eyes in public, just like Mama Michelle and keep Josh happy in the sac so he leave her daughters alone. Little does she know it’s not the same thing at all, one won’t stop the other.)
These people are nucking futs!
“How many of you would broadcast the sins of your children to the whole world? Would you be willing to publicize your own darkest moments?”….ok I get that but these people are the BIGGEST HYPOCRITES….condeming the LGBT Community all the while harboring a child molester…Before they started pointing fingers at other people they needed to make sure their hands were clean
““How many of you would broadcast the sins of your children to the whole world?”
Apparently they don’t think that there should be public sex offender registries?
Of course people are acting like sharks “in a feeding frenzy” when children were molested and the sex offender was never punished! Anyone who’s okay with that is just as sick as the Duggars.
Why hasn’t this show been cancelled yet? How is it okay for TLC to teach children that child molestation has no consequences for the sex offender?
Click on the blog link at your own risk. It’s enough to induce a rage-gasm.
Grahrrrg- Katie isn’t kidding. At one point she (it feels like the mom) pulls in this weird straw man of “If Josh had been handed condoms as he left edgy Hollywood films, abortion.”
The really heartbreaking thing is that the little throw-away paragraph on how it can affect victims their entire lives is the most anyone in that camp has mentioned that. Even for the kids not directly involved, that would be dangerously confusing to the others.
Poor Jessa. To have something so horrific become public only to have your in laws support your abuser while you find yourself pregnant by their son.
I agree with you. I feel so awful for the victims. I still can’t believe that Michelle Duggar idea of counseling was to teach the girls about modesty and not tempting men. As a victim, I know what it feels like to feel guilty for saying something, then have every one look at you as if “you” destroyed the family. If Josh was 14 years old, that means the girls were all under 12!! They were little girls, it was not their fault, and his urges were not natural, it was very sick!
As a christian, I can see where they are coming from, but they are completely wrong. Yes, people make mistakes. Yes God forgives all of them. BUT, pedophilia is a sickness. It is not a flaw. It cannot be prayed away. It CANNOT be excused.
This family is brainwashed beyond comprehension.
Thank-you for being the first person stating that they’re a Christian on these comments who is actually sane! Seriously…the idea that forgiveness is the only cure for this whole mess has kind of driven me up a wall. Thanks for being a breath of fresh air 🙂
Yes Lauren no problem!!! I wish more people knew what being a Christian is all about. I have a sweater that says “Jesus is my savior, not my religion.” So you don’t have to go to church (x) amount of times a week, follow crazy rules, be perfect, etc. Just love God and let God love you, and don’t pass judgement on anyone else because that’s not your job
And the Duggars really are throwing stones from a big ol’ glass house.
Not to draw attention away from the sickening debacle unfolding before us, but did anyone else look at the top photo and immediately think “Are they on some kind of Red Team vs. Blue Team group date night or something?”
bhahahahah! Totally!
They just verbally slapped Jessa in the face
Why did they even need to make a statement? Are their opinions of any more importance than anyone else’s? I guess it’s important to show support and keep that money coming in. I’m with Liz, the person that posted, “Ugh.”
I’m absolutely disgusted by what the Seewalds said. Their own daughter-in-law was molested and they’re choosing to support her abuser and the people who helped cover it up. If I were in her shoes, I would feel stabbed in the back about how my in-laws are taking everyone else’s side instead of mine. If my husband found out a brother of mine had molested me, he’d be wanting to go after him, not continue to follow him on Twitter.
And then reading how many people support the Seewald’s sick opinion. Nauseating. Molestation is never an “accident”.
ugh
My sentiments exactly.