Legal Dispute Over Religious Upbringing of Child Reaches Maine’s Highest Court
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court recently upheld a decision by the Portland District Court, granting a father the authority to determine his daughter’s religious activities amid a contentious disagreement with her mother. The case, which revolves around the religious upbringing of their 11-year-old daughter, involves Matthew Bradeen and Emily Bickford.
The court’s ruling preserves the initial decision made in 2024, which concerned Bickford’s frequent attendance with her daughter at Calvary Chapel Greater Portland, an evangelical church in Westbrook. Bradeen expressed concerns that the church’s teachings, particularly those about the rapture, had induced anxiety in his daughter, including a panic attack.
The lower court found in favor of Bradeen, noting that the church’s narratives were potentially “psychologically damaging the child,” especially in how they depicted her father. This decision was affirmed by the state’s high court on September 1.
Bradeen was given the right to decide if his daughter could continue attending services or engage with church members, with the exception of her mother. Although both parents retain shared parental rights concerning exposure to other religious groups, Bradeen holds the final say if disagreements arise.
Bickford’s legal representative, Mathew Staver, intends to challenge this ruling by appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court. Staver’s firm, Liberty Counsel, known for its focus on religious freedom, has a history of involvement in Supreme Court cases, including a notable 2022 victory regarding a Christian flag in Boston.
Liberty Counsel contended in a brief to the Maine Supreme Court that the ruling contravened Bickford’s First Amendment rights by exhibiting “open hostility” toward her religious practices and impeding her ability to guide her child’s religious upbringing.
“What Maine has done in this decision is put the Supreme Court of Maine at odds with the courts of a number of other states,” stated Staver, adding that the case’s implications for the First Amendment make it a likely candidate for Supreme Court review.
Michelle King, representing Bradeen, stated she foresaw the potential for the case to escalate to the Supreme Court. She described the September 1 decision as “well thought-out and reasoned,” and noted Bradeen’s satisfaction with the outcome.
During hearings, pastor Travis Carey of Calvary Chapel led a prayer about the case, specifically naming the parents and child multiple times, which the court considered part of the psychological impact on the child. The Maine Supreme Court noted Bickford’s lack of intervention during this service, describing her response as “appropriate,” despite the messages potentially alienating the child from Bradeen.
Judge Jennifer Nofsinger of the Maine District Court emphasized that the harm to the daughter resulted more from Bickford’s “inability to co-parent” on religious matters and the church’s language disparaging Bradeen than from the biblical beliefs themselves.
The final ruling highlighted that it is detrimental for a child to encounter negative narratives about a parent from the other parent’s community, necessitating one parent’s decisive authority over religious decisions.
Though Calvary Chapel Greater Portland was not a direct party in this litigation, the church network has been involved in multiple lawsuits, including cases against state pandemic restrictions and allegations of discrimination by the University of Maine System.
Bickford and her legal team have a 90-day window to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
