"You are tenacious. I love a woman who won't give up." William Luse 6/1/04
"Kudos also to Elena, who proved that she can take it as well as she can dish it." TSO 6/4/04
"the wonderful Elena" Nathan Nelson 8/1/04
"Elena, I quake at the sound of your name" John B-Catholic Packer Fan 8-12-04
"I like your writing and your spunk." Todd Flowerday, Catholic Sensibility 11-8-04
"Elena is is so many shades of stupid they don't make a Crayola box big enough to begin coloring her" Anonymous TWA blog 2/05
"Well, Elena cuts to the chase. Says it like it is and doesn't mince her words." Alexa of Domestic Excellence
"Elena, a woman I have little in common with but have come to be fond of" Cecily Kellog 9/15/05
"I work nonstop to help people with stupidly limited perspectives, like you, accept this reality. Even when it’s hopeless, like in your case. You live in a fantasy. I can’t help you" Also Cecily Kellog 07/2020
"Your witness is horrendous" JCecil of Liberal Catholic News
"Truth, love, charity, and, oh yeah, sensitivity, decorum, good taste and a dollop of wit. That's more like it. Keep rockin'!" PMC 12/05
"I've also been reading this blog for some time and just noticed I hadn't added you to my favorite blogs. Done!" The Mighty Barrister 5/21/04
"Now go haul your huge, sagging, obese, smelly old body out of the chair and take care of those kids of yours before I call CPS and have them do an inspection and see what you're really up to when you're supposed to be homeschooling them." NMH 2006
"That you are one narcissistic, bizaare individual." Jill Filipovic on Feministe Blog September 2006
"I could certainly continue to go back and forth (and believe me, I would love to!!!!!), but that would be answering a fool according to his folly." Amy-anti-Catholic blogger at Blessed Motherhood 7/07/07!
"Where's Elena? We need Elena." Kathryn the Daring Young Mom 2/17/06
"I have no problem with Elena. I find her answers to be quite lucid, witty, and insightful." David B commenting on In Today's News 10/29/05
"She's not cranky, she just senses happiness and snuffs it out." Gabe, age 9, after being scolded for not being ready for swim practice. 12/0
"you are one narcissistic, bizaare, individual." Jill Filipovic 9/11/2006
"Elena of My Domestic Church get’s my nomination for living a life of loveliness that I could only ever dream of. She’s an awesome wife and mother, a deeply committed Catholic, a proponent of pro-life issues, a hands on make-and-bake-and-cut-and-stick-musical-momma, a prayerful, compassionate, thoughtful and passionate woman who endeavours to live a christocentric life in her own euphonious way. Yes, I am proud to know her as a blog buddy and sharing in her trials and her triumphs via reading her blog over the last few years has impacted me more than she could know… and always for the better." Deb from Ukok's Place 08/2007
"I have a feeling elena never moves on from anything. other than the couch to the fridge." 08/2007 commenter on the now defunct Rock Star Mommy Blog.
"I think you're a shrew." Anne Basso 7/08
"Even with our differences, I will say one thing--she's smart. I may not always agree with what she says, but she doesn't spout unsupported garbage as fact." Ruthjoec aka JAnn from AOL Catholic message boards and This That and the Other Thing Blog
"I was wrong. You were right. God bless you" T from LO2W blog 3/6/2008
"As a Catholic Mother myself, I enjoy reading My Domestic Church. It's one of the many blogs that I follow and read regularly. It's refreshing to read comments from a mother that shares your views. So much of what Elena has me nodding my head in agreement. I'm sure that any Catholic-Mother will enjoy reading Elena's blog." SAMinIL on Blog Catalog 9/09
"Because of my interest in Benedictine spirituality and monasticism, began reading about the Domestic Church. This site is an excellent resource. Like any good family it is alive with energy and the Holy Spirit." John on Blog Catalog 12/08
"I watched your talk on YouTube and thought you and your husband did a wonderful job. Very natural, not stilted. Your account of your child, Raphael's, life and death were extremely touching and profound." Eileen via e-mail 02/21/2010
"Happy Easter to you Elena! Four years ago I discovered Candy. Two years ago I discovered you. Last night (Easter Vigil) I was received into full communion with the Catholic Church. It was a beautiful night and one I will remember forever. Thanks to you and Kelly for clearing up any confusion there may be about what the Church believes, teaches, and proclaims. Have a blessed Easter season!" From a VTC reader. 05/2010
"Elena, You completely 'foul up' the catechism. I repeat you are a nice lady, but your lack of education and knowledge, as your distorted answers show," Jack from Liberal Catholic Sports Music 1/9/2009
"you repeatedly impress me. I know we have very different political views that show up in our comments to each other at times, but I have never once felt anything but generosity from you toward who I am." JB via e-mail 7/23/2010
"The post I really love, though is 28 Things I Learned About Marriage in 28 Years at My Domestic Church. In fact, it's so good I plan to show it on the first day of class for my Family and Society course this." Sister Edith at Monastic Musings
Elena was animated, enthusiastic, faith shined through! She was very real. For us, she was relatable and so honest and open. She motivated us the most and we are thankful that she shared so much of her personal life to show example. some PreCana evals from 2014
"you never cease to amaze me, and everyone else! You are unbelievably unforgettably wow! I'm so blessed to be your cousin and friend. Dan - My domestic cousin 5/2014
"Elena: A flute could never sound or feel so etherial as when you play." Marissa
"Your comments are continually provoking, idiotic and condescending" my nephew 11/2018
" As a mom of littles, I really appreciate moms like you tackling these tough issues and sharing your wisdom!" Laura commenting on Catholicmom 06/2019
"Thanks so much for a thoughtful article faithful to the teachings of our faith, while being compassionate towards gay people."Tim commenting on Catholicmom dot com 06/2019
"Grandma, snuggle me!" - My domestic granddaughter 2017
"When Elena turns the other cheek, it's so she can whip around the other side with full force!" Mr. Pete My Domestic Husband!
How did records come to light? He was a juvenile.That is not an excuse- but those records are supposed to be expunged.
Second, many many of the Saints were not such great people until they took the Lord as their Savior into their hearts. I think that is important to point out to children- as well as their virtuous life after they took the Lord in. God takes us where we are at when we ask and then moves us forward.
The last is, although both are about sex, the priest sex scandals were adults who preyed, mostly, on children. This is a very different thing. Both situations are power plays—but an adult is supposed to have a fully informed conscience when taking a vow. A child- even an older teen- does not have that capability.
I do think the anti religion people would like us all to abandon good role models—but it is to their benefit that we do. I do believe this young man still is a good role model—and am sorry it all happened. Actually, I would not even know about it without your blog post here!
Good points Janette. I'm sorry this all happened too and I'm especially sad for the Duggar girls who had all moved on with their lives, having to relive it all again.
You are utterly disgusting. You are willing to sink to any reprehensible depths to defend your moronic beliefs. WHAT IF THIS WERE IZZY OR ROSIE????!!! Would you sweep it under the rug and have the only punishment be a "stern talking to" by a convicted child pornographer. Would you deny and excuse if it had been your sweet innocent girls violated repeatedly in their own home BY THEIR OWN BROTHER???!! What is wrong with you Elena? Are you so desparate to have everything fit into your narrow box of godly and conservative you've stooped to defending pedophiles and their enablers? You are gross and I feel sick for having read this. I'm finished with you Elena you've absolutely gone off the deep end here. ~Linds84
OK, let's look at your charges
* sinking to reprehensible depths to defend moronic beliefs – you didn't actually specify what moronic beliefs you were referring to. I specifically said that I wasn't defending Josh Duggar, other than that I'm not clear what you are referring to.
*What if it were Izzy or Rosie? Hypothetically, this is where I would probably do things differently than the Duggars. I would NOT have called the police immediately and frankly I don't think most people would pick up the phone and call the police to arrest their 14 year old son in the middle of the night. I would get him out of the house and get everyone into counseling though and I wouldn't wait on that.
* Deny and excuse what? I don't deny what he did was wrong and I totally find it inexcusable. Your point?
*What's wrong with you Elena? Nothing. You on the other hand might want to sharpen your reading comprehension skills. I neither defended or condoned anyone. This was a post about helping folks who are scandalized by this find hope in prayer and finding good role models, and about not losing the message just because another messenger has fallen from grace.
Seriously Linds- take a chill pill, or a stiff drink, calm down and actually read what I wrote.
"What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every men be false… But if our wickedness serves to show the justice of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in the human way.) By no means!" And the rest of Romans 3… -Mallory
Excellent scripture Mallory. Thanks for sharing it!
Should the man be torn to shreds over this? I don't believe he should. However, the failure of either Josh or his parents to acknowledge his sisters in their statements makes me angry. They are the true victims in this, not Josh. Josh is NOT the one who should be pitied or made a martyr. Michelle and Jim Bob's statement was particularly eye-roll worthy and seems to elevate their son over their daughters, as if covering up for him was more important than tending to the fact that four of their other children had been molested.
I wonder how many parents of both boys and girls are wondering what they would have done had it happened in their family–because if could. I don't care how much or how little sex education you give your kids, or whether you preach abstinence or protection, it COULD happen in your house, to your kids. It is easy enough to talk about throwing the book at someone else's kids, or at an adult who violated your child, but the reality is parents have to consider BOTH kids, and what seems like a good system of mandatory reporters means that there is no where they can go for help without having government intrusion into family life. Where would Josh have been sent? To Grandmas? or to a foster home where who knows what would have happened to him (I'm not knocking the wonderful foster parents out there who deal with kids with all sorts of issues, but there are plenty who aren't good and in whose care Josh would have not gotten help, and may have been harmed by other kids.
My only criticism of this whole affair is the reality television end of it. All of us have dust bunnies under our bed or dirt behind the washing machine or….in other words, look long enough and hard enough and you are going to find problems in any family. You are going to find kids who don't live up to parental expectation, parents who make child-rearing mistakes and friends who aren't. You are going to find people of faith who don't live up to the expectations of that faith. When you stick cameras in a family home and record "real life", especially a "real life" that is considered odd by most, you are sticking yourself on a pedastal from which a fall is likely and painful. If the Duggars were just your average overly-religious too-large family this would be a family matter to be dealt with by family; now it is being discussed by people who don't know anything about it, and that discussion is probably as painful for those girls as the initial molestation.