Court bans 13-year-old from attending church or reading the Bible 

Fight to overturn a rogue judge’s church ban continues  

“Being in church is our whole life,” says Emily Bickford about her and her daughter Ava’s convictions. “We just love, we love coming to church."

But in December 2024, a Maine family court judge issued an outrageous custody order that for the last two years has banned Emily from taking Ava to ANY church ANYWHERE.

No association with any of her Christian friends. No Christmas. No Easter. No religious meetings. And no “exposure” to any “religious philosophy or of the Bible in general.”

Emily cannot even attend a Bible study with her daughter!

Defend Emily & Ava and a Challenge Grant will DOUBLE your gift.

The family court order is outrageous and unconstitutional:

“Mr. Bradeen is allocated the right and responsibility to make decisions regarding whether Ava attends any service, gatherings, or events associated with Calvary Chapel ... or Ava’s exposure to teaching of any religious philosophy or of the Bible in general,” read the judge's order.

In addition to missing church, the order required Ava to quit associating with any of her church or Sunday school friends she has made over the last four years.

“I just don't understand why I can't just go to church,” says Ava, now 13. “If [the judge’s ruling] goes against the constitution, then why can't I go to church?”

I argued Emily’s case before the Maine Supreme Court. Liberty Counsel typically does not get involved in child custody cases, but if this ruling stands, it will set a dangerous precedent for all future child custody cases. It will stop fit parents from raising their children according to their Christian beliefs.

As of today, Emily has not been able to take now-13-year-old Ava to ANY church function, at ANY church, since December 2024 — no Christmas, no Easter, no Vacation Bible school — all because of a Maine family court judge hostile to Christianity.

The judge is so hostile she issued a decision that intentionally lower-cased “god” every single time God was mentioned in the opinion — a complete rejection not only of God Himself, but also of proper legal writing standards that always capitalize God.

The judge stated that there was “no evidence” that Ava was “psychologically harmed” by exposure to the Bible, but she “potentially” be harmed because Calvary Chapel teaches about salvation, heaven, hell, angels, demons, right and wrong, and eternal life.

This is beyond OUTRAGEOUS. This court order is the MOST HOSTILE to Christianity we have ever encountered.

As we await the court’s decision, please pray — and support our legal fund to keep fighting for Emily and Ava.

Emily was awarded the Liberty Counsel “Defender of Liberty Award” at our Annual Gala last month. “I am so thankful for Liberty Counsel,” Emily said upon accepting the award. “I know they don’t usually take on family court matters, but this is a very unique case. ... I’m just so thankful that they are led by God’s Holy Spirit.”

Emily and Ava need YOUR HELP to keep fighting for the right to attend church.

Without YOU, Emily would not have the resources to fight for her and Ava’s religious freedom rights. It is ONLY because of YOU that Liberty Counsel is able to give people like Emily and Ava the top-notch legal representation they need to defend their rights.

Every donation made to our legal fund today will be DOUBLED by a special Challenge Grant. Please give generously so no parent ever again loses the right to take their child to church.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then ...” (Gal. 5:1). 

Mat Staver
Founder and Chairman
Liberty Counsel