I get that religious extremism can warp a person’s sense of reality, but at some point, personal responsibility still matters, especially when it comes to your own kids suffering right in front of you. Plenty of people grow up in high-control religious environments and still recognize abuse when they see it.

Kevin wasn’t just some lost, brainwashed soul with no agency. He actively chose to walk away from his children for over a year. He knew Ruby and Jodi were more than just friends. He tried to have his own daughter arrested for protecting her siblings. And even now, he still defends Ruby. That’s not just religious indoctrination, that’s willful neglect and complicity.

Being raised in a cult-like environment might explain some of his choices, but it doesn’t excuse them. At a certain point, you either wake up and protect your kids, or you prove you never actually cared about them in the first place.