Question:
A father is accused of child abuse. He is orthodox and keeps Halacha despite his failings. Are his children obligated to sit shiva for him on his death?
Answer:
The children are definitely obligated to sit shiva for him. Yes he did have sins… but all of us? We all have failings, and we can judge someone else’s nisyonos, and it is very possible that he tried to make himself better but he fell a number of times. Although it might be very difficult, but the children still have an obligation to respect him and fulfill the mitzvah of kibbud av v’em to him, despite his shortcomings, and definitely not embarrass him by not sitting shiva.
Sources:
Y:D 240-18, Pischei Teshuva ibid 15.
