Duggar family says scandal-shamed son Josh is out of rehab
Scandal-shamed Josh Duggar has gotten out of rehab and returned to Arkansas, months after he checked into a "faith-based" reform facility in Illinois.
The Duggar family announced on its website Thursday that Josh has completed his residential rehabilitation program. Although they did not identify it, previous reports named it as Reformers Unanimous in Rockford, Ill.
According to the local paper, the Rockford Register Star, the center treats people for addiction recovery based on the biblical teachings of its late founder, Steve Curington.
"We are so thankful for everyone who worked with Josh in this program," the family statement said. "It was a crucial first step in recovery and healing for Josh.
"Josh has now returned to Arkansas, where he will continue professional counseling and focus on rebuilding relationships with his family. We look to God for help and guidance and place all of our trust in Him. We are forever grateful for the love and prayers offered by so many and hope you will continue to pray in the days ahead."
Josh Duggar checks into rehab, family says
The Duggars, a sprawling family made famous by its TLC network reality show, 19 Kids and Counting, saw it cancelled and their conservative family-values reputation sullied in 2015 by Josh's confessions to molesting his underage sisters, cheating on his wife and addiction to porn.
At the time, Josh, 28, a married father of four, was working for the Family Research Council, a Washington-based group that campaigns against abortion and gay marriage among other social issues.
Josh's life started to unravel when tabloid revelations, quoting police reports in his Arkansas hometown, showed he had been investigated for molesting five underage girls when he was a teenager. Later, it came out that four of his victims were his younger sisters, two of whom went public on Fox News.
Duggars reeling from Josh's sex-abuse scandal
Josh ended up fired and in hiding, as Twitter raged at him and his family as hypocrites. TLC came under tremendous pressure to cancel its most popular show as major advertisers bolted. The Duggars went on national TV to defend themselves but only attracted more vitriol.
TLC finally capitulated and cancelled their show, but soon put up a new reality show starring two of Josh's sister/victims, Jessa and Jill. Their first full season of Jill and Jessa: Counting On, will begin March 15, the network said last month.
TLC not done with Duggars yet, at least not Jill and Jessa
Meanwhile, in August, Josh had gone into rehab, although the family never said what he was being treated for.
"Yesterday Josh checked himself into a long-term treatment center. For him it will be a long journey toward wholeness and recovery. We pray that in this he comes to complete repentance and sincere change. In the meantime, we will be offering our love, care and devoted support to (wife) Anna and our grandchildren as she also receives counsel and help for her own heart and future," the family posted on its website.
Jessa and another sister, Joy, recently reiterated in a promotional interview with People, the Duggar family's longtime chronicler and supporter, that they long ago forgave Josh, though the painful consequences of his behavior have not disappeared.
"I have forgiven him and I feel that, but the trust is not there," Joy said.
"And trust is not quickly rebuilt," added Jessa. "It is something that takes a while. We love him very much, though, and we are very hopeful for the future."