US News
Maine Supreme Court upholds father's authority to limit daughter's church attendance
The court determined the custody ruling addressed co-parenting failures and psychological harm rather than religious beliefs, prompting plans for a federal appeal.
The short version
- The Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed a ruling allowing a father to restrict his daughter's participation at an evangelical church following a parental dispute.
- Judges stated the decision addressed the mother's inability to co-parent and the risk of parental alienation, rejecting claims of religious discrimination.
- Legal counsel for the mother announced intentions to appeal the First Amendment dispute to the U.S. Supreme Court within 90 days.
Key facts
- The Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed a district court ruling granting Matthew Bradeen the power to restrict his daughter's attendance at Calvary Chapel Greater Portland and make final decisions on religious exposure if parents disagree.[Associated Press]
- The legal dispute began in 2024 after Bradeen reported their then-11-year-old daughter suffered severe anxiety and a panic attack linked to church teachings on the rapture.[Associated Press]
- The state high court noted the child was subjected to church messaging, including a prayer service naming the family repeatedly, that portrayed the father negatively and risked alienating him from his daughter.[Associated Press]
- The court held that granting final decision-making power was necessary due to the parents' inability to co-parent on religion rather than any hostility toward religious beliefs.[Associated Press]
- Mathew Staver of Liberty Counsel, representing the mother Emily Bickford, stated they plan to file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court.[Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- It is not yet known whether the U.S. Supreme Court will agree to take up the mother's planned appeal.[Associated Press]