Catholic Diocese of Savannah — Attraction in Savannah

St. Patrick Catholic Church in Kathleen, under the Diocese of Savannah, falsely accused me of attempting to kidnap my own child during a parish event in October 2024—a lie pushed by staff member Mary Pangborn and supported by Fr. Eric Filmer. Their claim? That video surveillance would prove it.

That footage was preserved and even produced in earlier litigation. But when I subpoenaed it again, the Church claimed it had been “overwritten in the normal course of business.” They destroyed the only objective evidence that could’ve cleared my name—after litigation was already underway.

Even more appalling, the Church initially refused to produce the video due to “privacy concerns,” but then turned around and publicly published photos and videos of my children without my consent. When I formally demanded those images be removed, citing my joint legal custody, they refused. They invoked privacy only when it served to protect themselves—not when it protected my children.

When I reported safety protocols weren't being implemented by the Churches Virtus Trained volunteers, Fr. Filmer attempted to use his personal relationship with a parishioner member of law enforcement to bring criminal charges against me and when that didn't work, he attempted to pursue a Protective order against me. When that didn't work they trespassed me from the church and have threatened to sue me if I don't sit down and shut up.

Their attorney, Robert Pace, enabled and defended this behavior, filing motions and objections while the Church deleted evidence and ignored lawful custody rights. (Here you are Mr. Pace. I have publicly published this information about your clients.)

And let’s be honest: this behavior isn’t isolated. The 2023 report by the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia documented the Diocese of Savannah’s long history of concealing sexual abuse by priests. Read the report. Draw your own conclusions.

The Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia conducted this independent review to evaluate historical child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church in Georgia and assess how the Diocese of Savannah responded to those allegations.

The Diocese of Savannah cloaked itself in the appearance of transparency while systematically undermining the investigation—submitting only pre-filtered files based on its own internal credibility assessments, excluding records from religious order priests, omitting full assignment histories that could help victims identify their abusers, and hiding behind attorney-client privilege and HIPAA to shield damning evidence. Worse still, the Diocese made no effort to contact potential victims or assist survivors, revealing a persistent commitment to self-preservation over justice, truth, or healing.

This Church isn’t protecting children—it’s protecting its image, just as the Roman Catholic Church has done for decades by covering up clergy abuse, silencing victims, and destroying evidence to preserve institutional power. What happened to me is part of that same...

My wife Cathy and I have lived in the Diocese of Savannah for over 76 years, between the two of us. We love our diocese. We have visited all over and everywhere we have been to Mass folks have reached out to greet us. We have been part of two fine parishes in the Augusta Deanery for the 33 years of our marriage. Our Bishops have met our pastoral needs and more. Their fellow priests, deacons, and religious have led us both into a deeper relationship with God through their examples of lives laid down for Jesus. As Jesus says,...

I did go to Mass. I do not now. This diocese is why the Catholic Church is an institution in decline.

This diocese is more interested in covering up potential bad press than it is in doing the right thing. This is counter intuitive for a values based organization.

This is not a good place and it is certainly not ran well. This diocese exists for its own preservation rather than for the betterment of its...