Court says “exposure” to the Bible can be psychologically harmful

This case is unlike anything we have ever seen — a case in which a Maine trial judge has taken the unprecedented step of banning a loving mother, Emily Bickford, from taking her own daughter, now-13-year-old Ava, to church. Not only that, but the court order forbids Emily from allowing her daughter to associate with her Christian friends, participate in any religious or church activities at any church anywhere, or even be “exposed” to the Bible.

While admitting there was no evidence that Ava has been “harmed” by “exposure” to any teaching of the Bible, the court nevertheless ruled that such “exposure” could be “psychologically harmful.”

This case is now before the Maine Supreme Court. We await the ruling, even as we prepare to take this case to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.

STOP the “No church, No Bible, No Christian friends” custody order! Help us fight for Christian parents’ rights by supporting our legal fund today, and a special Challenge Grant will DOUBLE your impact!

Despite acknowledging that Emily is a fit parent, the judge granted sole authority over Ava’s religious upbringing to her father, Matthew Bradeen, who has used that authority to forbid any church attendance at any church anywhere, or even being “exposed” to the Bible or any “religious philosophy.”

And this all began when Ava told her father she wanted to be baptized.

Rather than celebrate Ava’s spiritual awakening, Matthew rushed to court to stop her. He hired a former Marxist, California university sociologist — an avowed critic of Christianity — to testify that Calvary Chapel is a “cult,” that biblical teachings about salvation create “fear,” and that Christian instruction would somehow damage the child. Shockingly, the court accepted this testimony, even though the witness is neither a psychologist nor a specialist in child development, and has never even examined Ava!

The result is one of the most extreme violations of parental rights and religious freedom we have ever encountered.

Don’t let anti-God judges BAN children from church!

The constitutional implications cannot be overstated. 

If this ruling is allowed to stand, it could set a precedent enabling courts to strip Christian parents of the right to raise their own children in accordance with their faith. For Emily and Ava, the consequences are not theoretical.

This is government intrusion into the family, contrary to constitutional precedent, the Maine Constitution, and the long-settled rights of parents to direct the spiritual upbringing of their children.

Help us overturn this outrageous child custody order!

Emily and Ava are being actively targeted their Christian faith. Emily does not have the financial resources to fight the state alone. Your support enables us to defend families like hers at no cost to them, ensuring that no parent is left defenseless when their religious freedom is under attack.

Will you stand with Emily and Ava today? Your contribution supports:

• The ongoing appeal before the Maine Supreme Court.

• Expert legal research and constitutional analysis.

• Filing and briefing costs.

• Advocacy to prevent this dangerous precedent from spreading.

With your help, we can restore Emily’s right to raise her daughter according to her faith and Ava’s right to pursue her walk with our Lord — ensuring that NO government entity has the authority to ban a child from church.

Make a life-changing gift and our Challenge Grant will DOUBLE your impact!

Thank you for standing with this courageous mother and her daughter. Please keep them in your prayers as we continue this fight.