With the highly-anticipated sequel series Fuller House premiering on Netlfix today, former child star Candace Cameron Bure is back in the spotlight in a big way.
Unlike her co-stars Jodie Sweetin and Andrea Barber, Bure never fully stepped away from the spotlight, and in her current role as a panel member on ABC’s The View, she espouses conservative Christian beliefs that frequently put her at odds with her more liberal co-hosts.
But while she’s remained a public figure in the years since the series that made her famous was canceled, Bure’s return to acting has brought her a level of fame that she hasn’t known since Full House was at the height of its popularity – and with it has come intense scrutiny and criticism of some of her more controversial views.
Specifically, Bure’s child-rearing methods have come under fire recently, as the 39-year-old mother of 3 has been condemned for supporting Michael and Debi Pearl – parenting gurus who support the use of corporal punishment.
In a 2004 blog post that was recently deleted, Bure wrote:
“The books that guideline raising our children are the Bible, Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp and To Train Up a Child by Michael & Debi Pearl. My parenting tip of the day is consistency; it’s key.”
The Pearls’ parenting advice first gained mainstream attention when it was revealed that they inspired Michelle Duggar to adopt “blanket training” as a method of disciplining her kids.
The controversial technique involves placing a young child on a blanket and striking them when they move from it.
A 2011 New York Times article links the Pearls’ teachings with multiple deaths.
The renewed focus on Bure’s personal life has led critics to link the actress to the Duggars’ more scandalous beliefs and practices.
In the book that Bure endorsed on her blog, Michael Pearl advocates disciplining children with “the same principles the Amish use to train their stubborn mules.”
In the build-up to her return to scripted television, Bure has refused to comment on her connection with the Pearls and the Duggars.
