Maine Ruling Raises Religious Liberty Questions
PORTLAND, Maine — The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has upheld a custody order giving a father final authority over aspects of his daughter’s religious upbringing, including whether she may attend the evangelical church frequented by her mother.
The unanimous September 1 decision in Emily A. Bickford v. Matthew A. Bradeen affirmed a Portland District Court ruling that granted Matthew Bradeen final decision-making authority concerning religious upbringing and medical care. The case has drawn attention from religious-liberty advocates because it places parental rights, religious exercise and a child’s welfare at the center of a contentious custody dispute.
Parents Disagreed Over Religious Upbringing
Emily Bickford began attending Calvary Chapel Greater Portland in 2021 and brought the couple’s daughter to services and other church activities. Bradeen later objected to aspects of the child’s participation and sought authority over religious decisions.
Court records show that the parents originally shared responsibility for major decisions involving their child. Their disagreement eventually expanded into disputes concerning church attendance, baptism, medical decisions and communication between the parents.
The District Court concluded that certain actions and messages surrounding the religious dispute contributed to the child’s anxiety and threatened her relationship with her father.
Court Says Decision Was About Harm, Not Theology
The Maine high court rejected Bickford’s argument that the lower court improperly discriminated against her Christian beliefs.
Importantly, the justices did not rule that evangelical Christianity, biblical teaching or belief in Christ’s Second Coming is inherently harmful. Instead, the court said the evidence supported findings that the child had been exposed to messages portraying her father as an “enemy” who was persecuting her faith.
The ruling specifically addresses Calvary Chapel Greater Portland. For participation in other religious organizations, the parents are required to jointly examine the church or teachings and discuss whether involvement serves the child’s best interests, with Bradeen holding final authority when they cannot agree.
Religious Freedom Battle Could Continue
Liberty Counsel, which represents Bickford, argues the decision improperly restricts a Christian mother’s ability to raise her daughter according to her faith and has announced plans to seek review by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The case could therefore become a significant test involving parental rights, religious freedom and judicial authority in custody disputes.
Editorial Note
This article is intended to encourage biblical discussion—not to criticize any individual pastor, church, or denomination. CNIR affirms that Scripture honors faithful spiritual leaders while also emphasizing the importance of mentoring and preparing the next generation. Our hope is that this conversation inspires churches to remain biblically faithful, spiritually healthy, and ready for the future. This article was created with AI assistance and curated by CNIR Staff for accuracy and editorial standards. Source: Christian News & Investigative Reports (CNIR) — cnirbc.com
