A custody battle in Maine has become a pivotal test of parental rights and religious liberty. The state’s highest court is reviewing whether a lower court exceeded its authority when it barred a mother, Emily Bickford, from reading the Bible to her 12-year-old daughter, Ava, or taking her to church.

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For years, Ava attended Calvary Chapel in Portland with her mother and even chose to be baptized. But after she shared her decision with her father, Matthew Bradeen, conflict escalated. Bradeen sought out a judge and an expert who labeled Calvary Chapel—and even Bible-believing churches broadly—as psychologically harmful “cults.”

The Portland District Court accepted that testimony and issued a sweeping order preventing Ava from attending church, joining Christian events, reading the Bible, or even associating with friends connected to Calvary Chapel. The ruling also granted Bradeen absolute authority to block any form of religious participation, despite Bickford being deemed a “fit parent” in every other respect.

According to Liberty Counsel, which represents Bickford, this order has isolated Ava from her church community, her friends, and the spiritual life she deeply values. Bickford says the impact on her daughter has been “heart-wrenching” and that the ruling violates her constitutional right to raise Ava in the Christian faith.

During oral arguments, Liberty Counsel Chairman Mat Staver challenged the justification for the restrictions, noting there was no evidence of abuse or neglect—only normal childhood anxieties and one reported panic attack. He argued that such minimal concerns do not meet the required standard of “immediate and substantial harm” that would warrant stripping a parent of religious-education rights.

Bradeen’s attorney contended that the court acted to protect the child’s best interests. But Staver warned that if upheld, the ruling would grant courts sweeping power to restrict religious upbringing even in the absence of genuine harm—setting a precedent that threatens families across the country.

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court’s upcoming decision could significantly influence how states navigate the balance between parental rights, religious freedom, and custody disputes. For Bickford, the case is about more than legal principles—it’s about restoring her daughter’s access to the faith community she loves.

Ava, she says, “misses her friends” and longs to return to church. Bickford remains hopeful that justice will prevail and that the ruling will be overturned soon.

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This article was originally published at Christian Broadcast Network. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons.