Institute in Basic Life Principles: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:47, 1 February 2025

Revision as of 01:54, 1 February 2025

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== Allegations and investigations==

The following references use sources linked to IBLP apologist groups and must be discerned with caution. The YouTube channel "Shiny Slander" is one of these said groups and has led a campaign to dismiss ongoing claims of abuse. Numerous ex-members have come forward stating their abuse and the following section does not acknowledge the abuse sustained by members of the church.

A number of former participants of IBLP programs have alleged that the organization is a [[cult]]<ref name=Chicago>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Bryan |title=The Cult Next Door |url=https://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/July-2016/Institute-in-Basic-Life-Principles-Hinsdale/ |access-date=September 11, 2020 |work=[[Chicago (magazine)|Chicago]] |date=June 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='I broke away from a strict homeschooling community cult' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42701297 |access-date=September 11, 2020 |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=February 2, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tracy |first1=Jenna |title=My childhood in a cult is hard to imagine - but my survival is truly unbelievable |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/01/childhood-in-cult-hard-imagine-survival-truly-unbelievable |access-date=September 11, 2020 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=June 1, 2015}}</ref>, although this has been shown to be untrue.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Cult Claims Debunked |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ndEtVmbVlM |url-status=live}}</ref> Don Veinot, president of [[Midwest Christian Outreach]], falsely alleged that Bill Gothard was a charismatic leader, had authoritarian control, IBLP practiced isolation of members, severe punishments, and demand for absolute and blind loyalty, that this added up to IBLP being "cult-like".<ref name=Chicago /> But when these allegations were investigated<ref name=":3" />, many of these claims have come into question.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Shiny Slander YouTube channel |url=https://www.youtube.com/@ShinySLANDER |url-status=live}}</ref> It came to light that there was no authoritarian control from the IBLP organization over families who participated in it, no isolation of members, no severe punishments inflicted by IBLP (such as physical abuse), and no demand for absolute or blind loyalty to the organization whatsoever.

It has been established the IBLP by definition is not a cult.<ref name=":1" /> It is an organization that promotes Biblical principles for success in life as interpreted by its founder and leadership.

In the 1980s, the organization faced "a major sex scandal" when Gothard's brother, Steve Gothard, resigned as administrative director after having affairs with several secretaries of the institute.<ref name="newrepublic.com">{{Cite magazine |last=Pease |first=Joshua |url=https://newrepublic.com/amp/article/151787/bill-gothard-fundamentalist-trap |title=The Fundamentalist Trap |magazine=[[The New Republic]] |date=22 October 2018 |access-date=22 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601163818/https://newrepublic.com/article/151787/bill-gothard-fundamentalist-trap |archive-date=1 June 2023}}</ref> According to accounts reported by [[Midwest Christian Outreach]] founders Ron and Joy Veinot (in their book ''A Matter of Basic Principles''), the board recommended that Bill resign from the board. But in truth, Bill Gothard requested a leave of absence to allow the investigation of the allegations to conclude. A few weeks later he returned to his position and continued his leadership role in the organization.

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On October 20, 2015, a civil lawsuit based on repressed memories alleging a sex-abuse cover-up involving several minors was filed in DuPage County, Illinois against IBLP and its board of directors. ''Gretchen Wilkinson et al. vs. Institute in Basic Life Principles and William W. Gothard Jr.'' was brought on behalf of five female plaintiffs in order to "seek redress and damages for personal injuries based on the negligent and willful and wanton acts and omissions of the defendants with regard to sexual abuse and sexual harassment and similar allegations of malfeasance suffered by the plaintiffs."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wilkinson v. Inst. in Basic Life Principles, 2020 IL App (2d) 190254 {{!}} Casetext Search + Citator |url=https://casetext.com/case/wilkinson-v-inst-in-basic-life-principles |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=casetext.com}}</ref> "Besides monetary damages, they asked a DuPage County judge to bar IBLP leaders from alleged plans to liquidate resources estimated at more than $100&nbsp;million while they close the institute's headquarters near Oak Brook and relocate to Texas, the lawsuit states."<ref name="chicagotribune">{{Cite news |last=Gutowski |first=Christy |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-dupage-ministry-lawsuit-update-met-20160218-story.html |title=More former followers of DuPage ministry allege abuse, harassment |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=April 18, 2017}}</ref> Five additional accusers joined the suit in January and February 2016, bringing the grand total of complainants to sixteen women and two men. Each plaintiff was seeking $50,000 per count with an average total of $400,000 per person.

It has now been disclosed that every count in the lawsuit was based on repressed memories<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wilkinson vs IBLP Third Amended |url=https://www.recoveringgrace.org/media/Third-Amended-Complaint-filed-08-18-2016.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Transcript Wilkinson vs IBLP |url=http://www.discoveringgrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cs-01-10-19-wilkinson-vs.-iblp-pm.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> The claims made by the women involved have been disputed due to their lack of evidence, the fact that repressed memories have been shown to be false<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dr. Elizabeth Loftus, How Reliable are Repressed Memories? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB2OegI6wvI |url-status=live}}</ref>, and in many cases testimony of family members, friends and personal correspondence several of the women sent to Gothard that shows a completely different picture than the one described by their complaints.<ref name=":2" />

==In the media==