Today, the Maine Supreme Court unanimously upheld a custody order prohibiting Emily Bickford from taking her 13-year-old daughter to church, religious organization or event, or to “expose” her to any “religious philosophy or the Bible in general.”

“This opinion rejects the First Amendment right of a fit parent to raise her child consistent with her Christian faith,” said Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver. Staver argued the case for Bickford before the Maine Supreme Court. “This opinion goes against other state court decisions involving custody in the context of religious free exercise rights and ignores precedent from the U.S. Supreme Court. We will ask the High Court to take this case and overrule the decision.”

The lower court concluded that Bickford is a fit parent and “there has been no showing of harm to [the child] associated with a belief system that is rooted in the Bible.” Instead, the lower court raised concerns about the Christian teachings of Heaven, Hell, eternal salvation, angels, demons, and teaching the Bible “verse by verse, chapter by chapter.” These beliefs represent mainstream Christianity.

The lower court order gives sole authority to Matthew Bradeen to prohibit Bickford from taking her daughter to “any services, gatherings, or events associated with Calvary Chapel; whether and what material, literature, video, or other messaging associated with, or created or published by, Calvary Chapel she reviews; and whether she associates or communicates with any member of Calvary Chapel other than Ms. Bickford. As to their daughter’s participation in any other church or religious organization, or her exposure to the teachings of any religious philosophy or of the Bible in general” Bradeen again has sole authority. Since December 2024, Bradeen has denied every request.

Under the lower court order, affirmed today by the Maine Supreme Court, Bickford has not been able to take her daughter to any church, religious organization, religious event, Christmas or Easter service, or Bible study.

“Nothing for nearly two years,” said Staver. “And somehow the Maine Supreme Court thinks this court order does not violate her rights as a fit parent and her Free Exercise rights under the First Amendment. This disappointing opinion from the Maine Supreme Court prohibits Bickford from taking her child to a Christian church because the child’s father objects to its biblical teachings. By depriving one parent their right to instill their religious views into their child and granting sole authority to the other parent fails to give proper protection to parental rights and religious freedom under the First Amendment. The implications of this opinion pose a serious threat to religious freedom. Liberty Counsel will petition the U.S. Supreme Court to ultimately decide this case.”