Joy-Anna Duggar & Husband Austin Forsyth Linked To Child Abuse Scandal

The Duggar family has been linked to a child abuse scandal. Joy-Anna Duggar’s in-laws are causing controversy by hosting a couple known for preaching physical discipline at their Fort Rock Family Camp and Retreat Center.

On the camp’s page, Michael and Debi Pearl are scheduled to speak from June 7-10 and from October 4-7.

“Michael and Debi Pearl of No Greater Joy Ministries are nationally renowned ‘practical family-living’ teachers and authors of books such as To Train Up a Child, Created to Be His Help-Meet, and Jumping Ship,” the description on the site read. “This dynamic couple has dedicated their lives to educating families on basic principals of cultivating Godly relationships within the family so that their relationships with God and others can be infinitely more fruitful.”

In 2011, The New York Times reported that their book To Train Up a Child encourages parents to use a switch on children as young as six months old to discourage bad behavior.

The book also promotes using a quarter-inch flexible plumbing line, among other instruments to hit on children's arms, legs and back.

The book was found in the homes of three children who died from child abuse.

Duggar’s husband Austin Forsyth’s parents own the camp, which is described is a place for “family restoration and enrichment.”

Forsyth is included in many photos on the site’s website and has promoted the camp on his social media pages.

Facebook blog Duggar Family News: Life is Not All Pickles and Hairspray was the first to report on the controversy.

What do you think of the scandal? Tell us in the comments.

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