Christian Maine mom ordered not to take daughter to church after dad objects

Key Points:

• The Maine Supreme Judicial Court upheld a custody order preventing Emily Bickford from taking her daughter to an evangelical church, granting the father, Matthew Bradeen, authority to decide on church attendance due to concerns about the church's impact on the child.
• Bradeen argued the church caused the daughter anxiety and panic attacks after exposure to teachings about the rapture, while Bickford’s attorneys claimed the order violated her First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.
• The court ruled that exposing the child to negative messages about one parent from the other parent or their authority figures was harmful, and rejected claims that the order was hostile to religion.
• Liberty Counsel, representing Bickford, announced plans to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the decision, arguing it infringes on parental rights and religious freedom under the First Amendment.
• The case highlights ongoing legal tensions between parental rights, religious freedom, and child welfare in custody disputes involving religious upbringing.