BILL BERKOWITZ FOR BUZZFLASH AT TRUTHOUT

(Photo: Malcolm Lidbury)There is a sexual harassment case that is rocking the headlines and it has nothing to do with Bill Cosby or any other Hollywood entertainer. At least ten women have thus far filed lawsuits accusing Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) founder Bill Gothard, now 81, of sexual abuse and harassment, according to Christianity Today.

According to The Washington Post, “Each of the 10 plaintiffs -- Gretchen Wilkinson, Charis Barker, Rachel Frost, Rachel Lees, Melody Fedoriw, Jamie Deering, Ruth Copley Burger and three Jane Does -- are seeking at least $50,000 in damages, alleging that Gothard and the organization, claiming intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, willful and wanton and civil conspiracy.

“The lawsuit in DuPage County Circuit Court in Illinois, where IBLP’s headquarters is located, charges that IBLP, its employees and board members received reports of sexual abuse, sexual harassment and ‘inappropriate/unauthorized touching’ from women and girls. But, the women allege, the defendants never reported the ‘potentially criminal allegations’ to law enforcement authorities or the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services as required by state law.”

Gothard, who, the Washington Post noted had “resigned from the ministry in 2014 after more than 30 women had alleged that he had molested and sexually harassed women he worked with, including some who were minors.” is not a household name nor did he have a popular “family values” television program, but to evangelical Christians, he has been an exalted and revered figure.

Last spring, when In Touch magazine published an explosive report that Josh Duggar -- the oldest child of the ultra-conservative Duggar family of TLC's hit reality show 19 Kids and Counting -- had, as a teenager, sexually abused five minor girls, it was also revealed that the family turned to Gothard's Institute in Basic Life Principles for help for their son.

In a Talking Points Memo story dated September 10, 2015, Sarah Posner reported that Gothard's operation is "an insular and authoritarian evangelical homeschooling ministry whose charismatic founder, former followers say, sexually harassed female employees, blamed rape victims for provoking their attackers, and subjected young disciples to grueling physical labor for little or no pay."

According to Posner, "By keeping Josh's confession—and punishment—in a small, closed circle, the Duggars were acting in accordance with the teachings of IBLP's founder, Bill Gothard, and the Advanced Training Institute, IBLP's exclusive homeschooling program that provides curricula to parents, holds conferences, and offers missionary and work opportunities. The Duggars have belonged to ATI since 1992, when Josh was four, according to their own accounts on 19 Kids and Counting."

In a recent Washington Post story headlined "New charges allege religious leader, who has ties to the Duggars, sexually abused women," Sarah Pulliam Bailey reported that Gothard, a major force in the Christian homeschooling movement, "denied allegations that he had raped one woman."

"Oh no. Never never. Oh! That's horrible," he told the Washington Post. "Never in my life have I touched a girl sexually. I'm shocked to even hear that." Gothard also denied sexually harassing women. "That really is not true," he said. "I'd rather hold off to comment until I see what's in the lawsuit."

The Washington Post pointed out that "Gothard's ministry was once a popular gathering spot for thousands of conservative Christian families, including the Duggar family from TLC's 19 Kids and Counting." His "Advanced Training Institute conferences, where families would learn from Gothard's teaching, were popular among homeschooling families. He has also rubbed shoulders with Republican luminaries like former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee."

Last week's lawsuit contains "an undated letter in which Gothard allegedly wrote to the women who were accusing him. 'I was very wrong in holding hands, giving hugs, and touching their hair and feet. I was also wrong in making statements that caused emotional turmoil and confusion,' the letter reads, describing what he did as 'sin.'"

After the dust clears, Gothard apparently intends to return to the ministry. "During the past seven months, God has allowed me to publish six new books that contain a powerful new message that I want to get out to all of the alumni," Gothard wrote in an affidavit.

For more from the women's point of view, see the website Recovering Grace, and their special section titled "The Gothard Files," which is "run by former IBLP-affiliated women, [who] began posting stories from more than 30 women alleging they experienced sexual harassment and abuse," the Post reported.

According to Recovering Grace, "Guiding our release of this information is one singular resolution that we hope will put an end to multiple forms of emotional, spiritual, and sexual abuse being perpetrated": Whereas Bill Gothard has exhibited a 40-year pattern of moral failure, abuse of spiritual authority, and mishandling of Scripture, and is therefore disqualified from Christian ministry according to Titus 1 and I Timothy 3, we believe that the only biblical course of action is for Bill Gothard to step down from all ministry and leadership positions, publicly repent of the above sins, and exhibit fruit in keeping with repentance (Matt. 3:8).