Just a general question for the Christians here- as a "new" one, I have a hard time understanding things like this. How can these kids possibly ever be expected to follow the "Honor Thy Father And Mother" Commandment?
.......and what would make you even think about that ?
did they have a father and mother fulfill any part of that title / commandment ??
I've asked myself and others the same thing over my adult lifetime and what I believe the commandment means by God is that we are to "honor" our father and mother and if/when the human versions fail us, look to God the Father and the Virgin Mary as mother and honor them. Just honor the principle of father and mother, and work to forgive -- if at all possible -- the wretched evil that some people enable. It's awful when it's a parent or parents that defile and horrify and denigrate children but it's important to disassocite from them a/s/a/p and to hold dear the CONCEPT of father and mother, not the abusers as profane and horrid.
A difficult commandment, no doubt about it. I have much compassion about and of this one, to and about the problems involved with honoring this commandment.
"How can these kids possibly ever be expected to follow the "Honor Thy Father And Mother" Commandment?"
It's like the Sixth Commandment: "Thou Shalt Not Kill". That means "murder". There are times when killing is justified; in war, in self-defense, eye for an eye, etc.
By the same token, there are times when you cannot honor Father and Mother. Paul in his Epistle to the Ephesians said "Children, obey your parents IN THE LORD." (Ephesians 6:1) Key words there are "in The Lord". God would never expect those kids to "willingly" obey their parents in this situation.
As a new Christian, by your own admission, let me admonish you to appy the Old Testament Commandments in the light of New Testament Scripture. Blessings.