The TLC Network may have had good intentions when it aired the documentary "Breaking the Silence" on Sunday, which focused on the topic of child sexual abuse, but its efforts were met with viewer backlash starting that very night.

The one-hour special was TLC's response to the Duggar family molestation scandal that became public in May. Jessa Duggar Seewald and Jill Duggar Dillard were among five victims sexually abused by their older brother, Josh Duggar, over a decade ago. The scandal led TLC to cancel the family's reality TV show "19 Kids and Counting."

Seewald, Dillard and their mother, Michelle Duggar, took part in the documentary and participated in a sexual abuse prevention training class given by Darkness to Light (D2L), a leading organization for abuse prevention, but the women were featured for about two minutes and Josh's name was never mentioned. Many viewers felt the network deliberately downplayed the sexual abuse that happened in the Duggar household and bombarded the TLC Facebook page with angry comments.

"Jill and Jessa Duggar said what happened to them was 'No Big Deal.' How can you put them on this show? If this show is about educating people about child sexual abuse and thus trying to stop it, how can you have two victims on there who claim they were not really abused? Totally conflicting the apparent message you are trying to send. We will not watch this," Carolyn Schroeder wrote.

Another commenter on the TLC Facebook page said the network should be ashamed for supporting the Duggars when the family had allegedly tried to cover up their daughters' sexual molestation.

"Disgusted that such a powerful show and message is ruined with the likes of The Duggar's. They chose to act as bad as an abuser and hide what happened. Setting back their daughters and victims everywhere. Victim's live with this their whole life, the shame the blame. Shame on you TLC for supporting the Duggar's in any way on this special," wrote Tina Curley Kirslis.

Despite the viewer backlash, the Duggar women had nothing but positive things to say about their participation in the documentary.

"I was so glad that my girls and I were able to do this together and that we could just be a support and encouragement to each other to be able to gain more information about this important topic," Michelle said on the documentary.

Seewald came away from the experience feeling child molestation is a topic that needs more attention.

"I feel like this should be a discussion people are having, even regularly. I think that it shouldn't be a taboo subject, that we should be bringing awareness to child sexual abuse and talking about this," Seewald said.

During the one-hour special, the Duggar sisters were among many child molestation survivors who shared their stories. Erin Merryn, featured as the documentary's primary survivor, is fighting to stop child sex abuse with Erin's Law legislation, which requires sexual abuse prevention education in public schools. Her law has already been enacted in 26 states.

TLC's "Breaking the Silence" teamed up with RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) and D2L to educate about the sexual abuse of children.