The famous family of 19 Kids and Counting have once again come under fire for having ties with the Institute in Basic Life Principles, an organization that is being sued by five women for covering up sexual abuse and harassment of its stakeholders, the Washington Post reports.
The women - Gretchen Wilkinson, Charis Barker, Rachel Frost, Rachel Lees and a Jane Doe - filed a suit against the IBLP for allowing and instigating the abuse of interns, employees, and other participants in the organization's programs. The plaintiffs are charging IBLP for willfully disregarding their claims and attempting to conceal the crimes from the public eye. Ironically, the ministry was well known for their advocacy in teaching parents how to bring up children that were devout and chaste as well as obedient.
IBLP was founded and led by its longtime president, Bill Gothard, who is directly acquainted with the Duggars. The organization began in 1961, which held conferences and teaching materials that were patronized and highly regarded by conservative Christians for content that focused on "biblical character."
Despite the organization being previously regarded as a leading force in the Christian homeschooling movement, and its president being of a "saintly" character, more than 30 women have come forward in 2014 claiming that Gothard had abused them sexually. Bill Gothard, now 80 years old, has since resigned from his post when the accusations were made public.
The IBLP teachings were upheld by the Duggars' in 19 Kids and Counting until the show was axed after Josh Duggar was found to have sexually abused his sisters and three other girls.
Interestingly, the IBLP was also linked to yet another reality TV family who had 19 children and starred in a show called "Bringing Up Bates." The father, Gil Bates, is on the IBLP board and was named in the lawsuit.
Salon published an editorial article outlining how the IBLP was closely related to the Duggars and the eldest Duggar son, Josh.
It is apparent that Josh had been sent to an IBLP training center after he admitted his sexual offenses against his siblings and another girl.
Meanwhile, the Duggars, particularly sisters Jill and Jessa, still command a fair share of popularity despite the controversy that continue to hound the family.
22-year-old Jessa is proudly continuing the Duggar family tradition of having children raised in the public eye, by relentlessly posting updates about her pregnancy. Recently, she posted an ultrasound snapshot of the latest infant in the Duggar clan and asked her fans which parent the fetus resembled, Entertainment Today reports.
