Pawleys Island Update:
One Case Ends, Others Remain

For families touched by the registry, news like this can be hard to read. It can bring fear that others will judge them, too. The children and families in this case also deserve care, privacy and clear answers.

FAC first covered this story on July 30 in Third-Party Lawsuits Are Closing Doors on Registrants. This update explains what has changed in the courts. A headline alone does not tell the whole story.

What did the judge decide?

On September 15, 2026, a judge dismissed the federal lawsuit tied to Pawleys Island Community Church and its former school. The dismissal covered all those named in that federal case. Read the court record.

The reason matters. The court did not have the legal power to hear the case as it was brought. The judge did not decide whether the claims were true or false. The ruling leaves room for the claims to be brought in a court that can hear them.

Other cases are still open

This did not end every case. Six related lawsuits were still open in state court as of October 19. That is also the date of the recent news report, not the date of the federal ruling. Read WMBF’s update.

The criminal cases are separate. South Carolina’s Attorney General took them over because of a conflict in the local prosecutor’s office. That change does not prove guilt. We have not confirmed a final outcome in those cases. Read the August 21 letter.

Care and fairness can go together

Claims that a child was hurt deserve a full and careful review. Children and parents deserve to be heard. People accused of crimes also have the right to a fair process. A charge is not proof of guilt. And this dismissal is not proof that no harm took place.

People on the registry and their loved ones deserve dignity, too. One case should not be used to judge every person, every family or every group that offers help.

We can care for children and stand for fairness at the same time. We can seek answers without spreading fear. And we can remember that behind each headline are real people whose lives matter.