Sometimes It Rains in Indianapolis in the Wintertime

On Feb. 4 MSNBC.com carried the first part of a series on these charges from NBC affiliate WTHR, Channel 13, which reported allegations of “dark secrets” hidden inside the ITC, including charges of using excessive corporal punishment, and solitary confinement on a 10-year-old girl. WTHR labeled these and other allegations “shocking” on its own web site. Its ten-part series included a hidden camera investigation by reporter Richard Reeve

In the first part of its “Faith Under Fire” series, which also included undercover video, WISH-TV, Channel 8, broke the news that the ITC implemented a “no spanking” policy in the wake of the ongoing investigations. The station’s Karen Hensel reported:

From the outside, the center has all the appearances of an upscale hotel. But insiders say what drives the center is a combination of faith and fear.

Complicating the situation is the fact that the allegations were made by children referred to the ITC by the Marion County Juvenile Court as an alternative to treatment in the secular Plainfield Juvenile Correctional Facility or Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility. According to Chief Public Defender David Cook, this was happening without his office’s knowledge. Additionally, the ITC appeared to receive indirect government funding. County officials have since stopped making referrals to the center.

Some of the local coverage in Indianapolis included interviews with Midwest Christian Outreach (MCO) president Don Veinot.

Even as government prosecutors consider preparing a case, a backlash from Gothard’s supporters against the charges has already begun. In his March 17 column, The Indianapolis Star’s Russell Pulliam opined,

So far the accusations include spanking, which is a much-debated method of discipline but not a scandal, and the center has stopped the practice. They also accuse the center of assigning offenders to a prayer room for misbehavior. The prayer room is unlocked so it's hard to fathom that objection. Virtually all juvenile facilities use confinement. No one at the center has been accused of personal credit card use or sex with offenders.

But when asked about Pulliam’s comments, MCO’s Veinot replied, “I think Mr. Pulliam has formed an opinion before adequately acquainting himself with all the allegations.”

“One of the bitter ironies in all this,” said Veinot, “is that Bill Gothard promotes his methods as a way of attracting the world’s attention to the Christian faith. But this isn’t the kind of attention the Christian faith deserves.”