Jinger Vuolo Reveals the Duggar Family’s Religion Was Against Adoption Because of ‘Generational Curses’

During a recent podcast appearance, Jinger Vuolo revealed that her family's religion doesn't believe in adoption because of "generational curses.:"

When Jinger Vuolo published her memoir Becoming Free Indeed, Duggar family followers were disappointed. They had hoped for a scathing tell-all about the famous family. Jinger completely avoided talking about her parents. Her sister, Jill Dillard, was willing to do the talking in her own memoir, though. Jill’s bravado may have helped Jinger come out of her shell just a bit. The mother of two is set to release a second book next year. In the meantime, she’s making appearances on podcasts. In a recent podcast appearance, Jinger spoke more about her family’s religious beliefs. She revealed why the Duggar family feared adoption despite being the legal guardian of a minor family member for several years.

Jinger Vuolo says her father worried about “generational curses” with adoption

Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo appeared on the Unplanned Podcast last week. The couple chatted with hosts Matt and Abby Howard about their courtship and life together, but they also delved into Jinger Vuolo’s upbringing with the Duggar family. In one shocking revelation, Jinger revealed that the ultra-conservative Christian ministry she was raised in was completely against adoption.

She explained that Bill Gothard, the ministry’s now-disgraced leader, told his followers, including the Duggars, that adoption should be avoided as it allowed “generational curses” into the home. Jinger said there were concerns that you didn’t know what “curses” a child would bring into your home because of the sins of their parents or grandparents.

Jinger was careful not to name the Duggar family as people who were completely against adoption. Still, it is easy enough to read between the lines. The Duggar family followed Bill Gothard’s teaching to the letter. They dressed as he wanted, wore their hair as he wanted, and taught the disgraced ministry leader’s beliefs to their 19 kids. It is easy to see that since adoption was verboten in their circles, her parents would be against it, too.

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar were legal guardians for several years

Jinger Vuolo’s revelation about the ministry’s thoughts on adoption might surprise some Duggar family followers. Several Duggar offspring have claimed to have an interest in adoption in the past. Jim Bob and Michelle even served as a legal guardian for a family member for several years. The couple took in Michelle’s great-nephew, Tyler Hutchins, in 2016 after his previous legal guardian suffered a medical complication and was unable to care for him. Tyler appeared on the family’s reality TV show, traveled with them extensively, and seemed to fit in well with Jackson Duggar, the family’s youngest son.

Jim Bob and Michelle relinquished custody of Tyler in 2023. According to court documents obtained by the U.S. Sun, he returned to his grandparents, Carolyn and John Hutchins, months before official paperwork was filed. Carolyn Hutchin is Michelle Duggar’s sister. It is unclear what prompted the custody change and who decided it best for Tyler to return to his grandparents. Tyler’s mother is unable to care for him, and his father is unknown.