For those who follow him, he requires the same compassion toward children: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10). The Apostle James put this care at the heart of true religion: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world” (James 1:27).
The couple concluded: “We are thankful to God for exposing Josh’s actions and to a legal system committed to protecting the innocent and punishing the guilty in this case. We are grateful for justice. We are praying for further justice, vindication, protection, and healing for all those who have been wronged.”
Ben Seewald, husband of Josh’s sister, Jessa, posted a statement on Twitter that said:
From the moment we learned of this case against Josh we have prayed that God would cause the truth to be made known, no matter what it was, and that the facts would be followed wherever they led.
We are grieved beyond words over the children exploited and abused in child sexual abuse material, and we are thankful for our justice system in its punishment of such evils.
Our hearts break for Josh’s family, and we ask your continued prayers for them in the unfathomable grief and pain they are enduring.
UPDATE: ‘An Honest Mistake’: Jessa Seewald Defends Sister Jana Duggar
Other members of the Duggar family who have posted statements include Josh’s sister, Jill, and her husband, Dereck Dillard; Josh’s parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar; and Josh’s cousin, Amy King.
Jim Bob Duggar, who is running for a Senate seat in the state of Arkansas, posted a second statement on Dec. 11 on the Facebook page for his campaign. He said:
As a father, I am heartbroken over the entire situation regarding my son, all who have been affected by it in any way, and those who have been harmed through CSAM. As an American, I respect our legal system and am thankful for those who serve in it. As a Christian, I put all of my trust in Christ in both the joyful and difficult moments of life. As your state senator, I promise to remain an unwavering conservative voice representing our great community in Little Rock. Thank you for your prayers and support.
