Bill Gothard, the founder of the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) currently being sued by ten women claiming sexual abuse, has admitted to "ungodly" and "sinful" behaviour in an apology letter.
Gothard is currently facing a $500,000 lawsuit filed by ten plaintifs, one of whom has alleged that he raped her. He has now released a "confession" letter that, while not admitting guilt to all the allegations made against him, said "God has begun to reveal" to him the "gravity" of his actions.
"I was very wrong in holding hands, giving hugs and touching their hair or feet. I was also wrong in making statements that caused emotional turmoil and confusion," Gothard said in the letter obtained by Radar Online from an Illinois court.
Last week, Gothard denied the allegations of sexual abuse in an interview with the Washington Post: "Oh no. Never never. Oh! That's horrible. Never in my life have I touched a girl sexually. I'm shocked to even hear that."
Gothard founded IBLP, a Christian home-schooling organisation which describes itself as an organisation providing "clear instruction and training on how to find success by following God's principles found in Scripture." Its website makes multiple references to the importance of developing "Biblical character."
"My guilt is compounded by my hypocrisy of requiring standards for others but not following them myself," Gothard said in his letter. "All of this can only be described as ungodly and sinful."
Gothard requested individual meetings with his accusers to discuss "forgiveness", and suggested that these meetings be mediated by Dr Doty Murphy, a physician from Arkansas.
"I can only humbly ask that each of you whom I damaged consider granting me the opportunity to confess my sins against you, and to ask you to forgive me," Gothard said.
He also thought it appropriate to apologise to the women's parents and husbands. He said that he had also sinned against them "by breaking a trust to protect [the women]."
He admitted that "throughout the years, faithful individuals repeatedly warned me about my words and actions" and that he chose not to "follow their counsel."
According to reports, the Duggar family have supported and been involved in the IBLP ministry. It was recently reported by In Touch magazine that Josh Duggar had been sent to its training centre as a teenager after he admitted to sexually abusing his four younger sisters and a family friend.
