Josh Duggar’s molestation allegations are not beyond the realm of God’s forgiveness, the family pastor says.
“Everyone does wrong, and what was wrong was very wrong as to what was testified to and it’s completely unacceptable,” Cross Church’s Ronnie Floyd tells People. “But I’m thankful, whether it’s him or any other one, that I serve a God who can forgive everything.”
Floyd told the magazine that this is not the first time the church has dealt with sexual abuse and it won’t be the last.
The molestation allegations first surfaced last month, and have drawn commentary from political candidates to pastors.
According to the original police report, Josh Duggar confessed his sins to his parents on multiple occasions before the parents brought it to the attention of the police.
The report also states that the Duggar family sought pastoral input from the church elders.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a former pastor himself, sides with Floyd.
“Josh’s actions when he was an underage teen are as he described them himself, ‘inexcusable,’ but that doesn’t mean ‘unforgivable.’ He and his family dealt with it and were honest and open about it with the victims and the authorities,” he says.
The Duggars formally endorsed Huckabee earlier this year.
In the 2012 election, the Duggars endorsed Rick Santorum, who says he is “sickened” by Josh’s actions.
