Mom Seeks Supreme Court OK to Take Daughter to Church Against Dad's Wishes
Summary
A Maine mother, Emily Bickford, is fighting a court order that stops her from taking her daughter to church. The Maine Supreme Court upheld the order, saying it was meant to protect the child's well-being, not to block religious freedom. Bickford’s legal team plans to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.Key Facts
- Emily Bickford and her former partner, Matthew Bradeen, are in a long custody dispute over their teenage daughter.
- A December 2024 court order prevents Bickford from taking their daughter to Calvary Chapel in Westbrook, Maine.
- The court gave Bradeen sole authority over the daughter’s participation in that church, while both parents share decisions about other religious groups.
- Bickford says this order violates her First and Fourteenth Amendment rights to raise her child with her Christian beliefs.
- Maine’s highest court rejected Bickford’s claims, saying the decision focused on protecting the child’s welfare, not opposing religion.
- Bickford’s attorneys at Liberty Counsel plan to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case, arguing it threatens religious freedom and parental rights.
- The case highlights how courts decide religious upbringing during custody disputes when parents disagree.
- Supporters note the daughter wants to attend church and keep church friendships but has been blocked from religious activities for nearly two years.
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