It’s been nearly three years since the world first learned that Josh Duggar molested five young girls – four of whom were his sisters – but the memory remains disturbingly fresh.
Josh’s crimes left a mark on millions of Duggar fans (many of whom are now former fans), but obviously, no one was as deeply affected as his victims.
They may be adults now, but it’s clear that Josh’s victims are still very much traumatized by his crimes.
While Josh’s sisters generally remain silent on the issue of the abuse they’ve suffered, they do so for the sake of their family’s media empire, not because they’re no longer pained by the events that took place.
Back in 2015, when Josh’s crimes first came to light, Jill and Jessa Duggar were interviewed by Megyn Kelly.
They spoke of their forgiveness for their troubled older brother and revealed that they felt he had been sufficiently punished for his misconduct.
(This, despite the fact that Josh was able to avoid criminal prosecution with the help of his parents.)
But while that may have been the last time that Jill and Jessa spoke directly on the matter, it seems they have much more to say about the abuse that shattered their childhood innocence.
In a newly updated biographical section on her family’s website, Jill opened up about a life-changing conversation that she had with her mother when she was 12 years old.
And as many fans pointed out, the discussion would have occurred right around the time Jill was violated by her trusted older brother.
“I confessed all the wrong things I could remember to my mom and God,” Jill wrote in her candid message to fans.
“I asked Him in prayer to take complete control of my life and take me to heaven when I die.”
What happened next has left many fans with deep concerns about the ways in which Jill’s parents may have exacerbated her trauma.
“Not too long after that, my dad baptized me at our church,” Jill wrote.
We’ve long known that Duggar children are taught that sexual abuse victims are often to blame for their assailants’ crimes.
But this is the first time that we’ve been made aware of exactly how Jill’s parents reacted to news of her molestation.
In the Duggars’ faith sinners who are thought to be nearly beyond redemption are often baptized a second time by a close friend or family member.
Needless to say, it’s a bit troubling that Jill was subjected to this rite, rather than Josh.
It’s yet another indication that the Duggars have successfully swept some of the ugliest details of Josh’s abuse and the ensuing scandal under the carpet.
Fortunately, those who are most appalled by the former lobbyist’s behavior are still digging deep to find the truth.
Watch Counting On online for more on reality TV’s most controversial family.
