---
title: "Maine court allows father to restrict daughter's church attendance"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/maine-court-allows-father-to-restrict-daughters-church-attendance"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/maine-court-allows-father-to-restrict-daughters-church-attendance"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/maine-court-allows-father-to-restrict-daughters-church-attendance.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/maine-court-allows-father-to-restrict-daughters-church-attendance"
category: "Politics"
area: "United States"
published: "2026-09-05T13:05:13.295Z"
source_reported: "2026-09-05T11:00:00.000Z"
updated: "2026-09-05T13:05:13.295Z"
trust_score: 42
critic_score: 65
hype_score: 41
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-09-05T13:00:19.992659+00:00"
---

# Maine court allows father to restrict daughter's church attendance

*The state's highest court upheld a lower ruling granting the father final say on religious matters.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named bodies, but relies on anonymous sourcing for some details.
- Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Reports quote affected parties and name specific details, but lack context on why the story matters.
- Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines promise more than the body delivers, with some loaded adjectives and mild sensationalism.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled on September 1 that a father can determine his daughter's attendance at an evangelical church.
- The father, Matthew Bradeen, had argued the church was a harmful environment that caused his daughter anxiety.
- The court's decision upholds a 2024 lower court ruling in a dispute between Bradeen and Emily Bickford over their daughter's religious upbringing.
- The mother's lawyer, Mathew Staver of Liberty Counsel, intends to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that a father can decide whether his daughter attends an evangelical church. The decision upholds a lower court's order in a dispute over the child's religious upbringing. The father, Matthew Bradeen, had argued that the church environment caused his daughter anxiety and was harmful.

The lower court initially granted Bradeen the right to decide if his daughter could continue attending Calvary Chapel services or interact with its members, other than her mother. The state's high court affirmed this decision on September 1. The mother's lawyer, Mathew Staver of Liberty Counsel, has stated plans to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

## Disagreement on court's reasoning

Washington Top News and Associated Press reported that the lower court said some of the church's language was psychologically damaging to the child because of how it characterized her father. The Constitution Study stated the father claimed his daughter's worry about his soul was psychological harm. The Gateway Pundit and The Western Journal reported the court referred to the church as a "cult" in official documents. The Washington Examiner's digest stated the case was about "whose God wins."

## What the coverage left out

None of the left-rated digests mention the specific details of the lower court's finding that the mother's "inability to co-parent" on religion and her giving control to the church caused harm to the child, as detailed in the full reports from Washington Top News and Associated Press.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 51 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 24% (12)
- Centre: 13% (7)
- Right: 63% (32)

7 of 58 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-05T13:00:19.992659+00:00.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 3 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-05T13:45:13.710Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- Left-rated reports focused on the mother's intent to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, with Associated Press, Newser, IBTimes UK, WCSH, and The Toronto Star all mentioning this. LGBTQ Nation highlighted that the court ruled the father could stop the mother from taking their child to a "harmful" anti-LGBTQ+ church, noting the mother was represented by the Liberty Counsel. Joe.My.God. reported that Liberty Counsel "loses custody battle on forcing child to attend church."

### Centre

- Centre-rated reports from Washington Top News, Internewscast, Newsweek, WMTW, Portland Press Herald, Central Maine News, and Lewiston Sun Journal highlighted the Maine Supreme Judicial Court's ruling that the father has the final say on his daughter's church attendance. Several of these reports also noted the mother's lawyer's intention to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

### Right

- Right-rated reports from Washington Examiner, Life and Liberty, The Daily Signal, The Gateway Pundit, Harbingers Daily, Catholic World Report, and The Western Journal focused on the court upholding the father's authority to prevent the mother from taking their daughter to church. The Gateway Pundit and The Western Journal stated the court referred to the church as a "cult" in official documents. The Daily Signal reported the father can forbid the mother from taking their "teen Christian" to church.

**Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- veryLow: 1
- low: 10
- mixed: 15
- high: 19
- unknown: 9
- veryHigh: 4

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [Washington Examiner](https://washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4711835/bickford-v-bradeen-parental-rights-religious-freedom) — When a Maine judge decides whose God wins
- [Life and Liberty](https://thepatriotchronicles.com/politics/maine-supreme-court-upholds-order-blocking-mom-from-taking-her-13-year-old-to-church) — Maine Supreme Court Upholds Order Blocking Mom From Taking Her 13-Year-Old to Church
- [The Daily Signal](https://dailysignal.com/2026/09/04/maine-supreme-court-rules-dad-can-forbid-mom-from-taking-teen-christian-to-church) — Maine Supreme Court Rules Dad Can Forbid Mom From Taking Teen Christian to Church
- [harbingersdaily.com](https://harbingersdaily.com/mother-appeals-to-supreme-court-after-being-barred-from-taking-her-daughter-to-calvary-chapels-exposing-her-to-the-bible) — Mother Appeals To Supreme Court After Being Barred From Taking Her Daughter To Calvary Chapels, Exposing Her To The Bible - Harbinger's Daily
- [The Gateway Pundit](https://thegatewaypundit.com/2026/09/court-forbids-mom-take-daughter-13-normal-christian) — Court Forbids Mom to Take Daughter, 13, to Normal Christian Church – Used the Word ‘Cult’ in Official Docs * The Gateway Pundit * by Randy DeSoto, The Western Journal
- [The Constitution Study](https://constitutionstudy.com/2026/09/04/court-blocks-christian-mother-from-bringing-daughter-to-church) — Court Blocks Christian Mother From Bringing Daughter to Church
- [Crypto News & Investigative Reports](https://cnirbc.com/maine-supreme-court-upholds-fathers-authority-over-daughters-church-attendance-in-religious-rights-case) — Maine Supreme Court Upholds Father’s Authority Over Daughter’s Church Attendance in Religious Rights Case – Christian News & Investigative Reports
- [The Western Journal](https://westernjournal.com/court-forbids-mom-take-daughter-13-normal-christian-church-used-word-cult-official-docs) — Court Forbids Mom to Take Daughter, 13, to Normal Christian Church - Used the Word 'Cult' in Official Docs
- [Catholic World Report](https://catholicworldreport.com/2026/09/03/maine-high-court-says-father-can-prevent-daughter-from-attending-mothers-church) — Maine high court says father can prevent daughter from attending mother’s church
- [Louder With Crowder](https://louderwithcrowder.com/court-demands-christian-mom-stop-taking-daughter-to-church-in-custody-dispute) — Court Demands Christian Mom Stop Taking Daughter To Church In Custody Dispute
- [ewtnnews.com](https://ewtnnews.com/world/us/maine-high-court-says-father-can-prevent-daughter-from-attending-mother-s-church) — Maine court says father can prevent daughter from attending mother’s church
- [Breitbart](https://breitbart.com/faith/2026/09/03/video-maines-highest-court-rules-against-mother-fighting-to-take-her-child-church) — Maine Court Rules Against Mom Fighting to Take Child to Church
- [thedailybs.com](https://thedailybs.com/2026/09/03/maine-court-tells-christian-mom-she-cant-take-daughter-to-church-now-its-headed-toward-scotus) — Maine court tells Christian mom she can’t take daughter to church — now it’s headed toward SCOTUS - The Daily Bo Snerdley
- [Newser](https://newser.com/story/395782/maine-court-lets-dad-decide-on-daughters-church-attendance.html) — Maine Court Lets Dad Decide on Daughter's Church Attendance
- [The Heartlander](https://heartlandernews.com/christian-father-sues-maine-public-school-for-religious-vaccine-exemption) — Christian father sues Maine public school for religious vaccine exemption
- [Joe.My.God.](https://joemygod.com/2026/09/liberty-counsel-loses-custody-battle-on-forcing-child-to-attend-church-vows-to-appeal-to-supreme-court) — Liberty Counsel Loses Custody Battle On Forcing Child To Attend Church, Vows To Appeal To Supreme Court
- [[your]NEWS](https://yournews.com/2026/09/03/7185388/maine-supreme-court-upholds-order-preventing-mother-from-taking-daughter) — Maine Supreme Court Upholds Order Preventing Mother From Taking Daughter to Church or Reading Bible With Her
- [christianitydaily.com](https://christianitydaily.com/news/maine-court-allows-father-to-bar-daughter-from-attending-church.html) — Maine High Court Allows Father to Bar Daughter From Attending Church With Mother
- [mycharisma.com](https://mycharisma.com/news/maine-supreme-court-rules-mom-cant-teach-her-daughter-the-bible-or-take-her-to-church) — Maine Supreme Court Rules Mom Can't Teach Her Daughter the Bible or Take Her to Church - Charisma Magazine Online
- [IBTimes UK](https://ibtimes.co.uk/maine-supreme-court-fathers-authority-religious-upbringing-1817722) — Court Bans Maine Christian Mum From Bringing Daughter to Church Due to 'Dangerous' Rapture Teaching
- [The Post Millennial](https://thepostmillennial.com/maine-court-blocks-christian-mom-from-taking-child-to-church-after-dad-objects-during-custody-battle) — Maine court blocks Christian mom from taking child to church after dad objects during custody battle
- [Internewscast](https://internewscast.com/news/us/maine-supreme-court-gives-father-final-say-in-daughters-church-attendance-dispute) — Maine Supreme Court Gives Father Final Say in Daughter’s Church Attendance Dispute
- [NewsFinale](https://newsfinale.com/us/maine-high-court-gives-dad-final-say-on-daughters-church-attendance) — Maine High Court Gives Dad Final Say on Daughter’s Church Attendance
- [democraticaccent.com](https://democraticaccent.com/maines-high-court-gives-father-final-say-over-daughters-church-attendance) — Maine's high court gives father final say over daughter’s church attendance – Democratic Accent
- [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/us/maines-high-court-gives-father-final-say-daughters-church-attendance) — Maine's high court gives father final say over daughter’s church attendance
- [WCSH](https://newscentermaine.com/article/news/regional/the-maine-monitor/maines-high-court-rules-father-can-restrict-daughters-church-attendance-religion-custody-battle/97-910f059b-dbcf-4e43-9a46-4aca3b40780d) — Maine’s high court rules father can restrict daughter’s church attendance
- [GB News](https://gbnews.com/news/us/maine-christian-mother-banned-daughter-court-teachings-damaging) — Christian mother BANNED from taking daughter to church as US court rules teachings were 'psychologically damaging'
- [LGBTQ Nation](https://lgbtqnation.com/2026/09/state-supreme-court-says-dad-can-stop-mom-from-bringing-child-to-harmful-anti-lgbtq-church) — State Supreme Court says dad can stop mom from bringing child to “harmful” anti-LGBTQ+ church
- [The Maine Wire](https://themainewire.com/2026/09/maine-high-court-upholds-restrictions-on-mother-taking-daughter-to-church-case-headed-to-u-s-supreme-court) — Maine High Court Upholds Restrictions on Mother Taking Daughter to Church; Case Headed to U.S. Supreme Court
- [CBN](https://cbn.com/news/us/maine-supreme-court-rules-mom-cant-teach-her-daughter-bible-or-take-her-church) — Maine Supreme Court Rules Mom Can't Teach Her Daughter the Bible or Take Her to Church
- [Newsweek](https://newsweek.com/emily-bickford-supreme-court-church-custody-battle-12397201) — Mom to ask Supreme Court to let her bring her daughter to church
- [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/b98ce1415fe42ba0) — Mom Seeks Supreme Court OK to Take Daughter to Church Against Dad's Wishes
- [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/09/02/us-news/christian-maine-mom-ordered-by-top-court-not-to-take-daughter-to-church-after-childs-dad-objected) — Christian Maine mom ordered by top court not to take daughter to church after child’s dad objected
- [The Daily Wire](https://dailywire.com/news/christian-mother-loses-appeal-over-taking-daughter-to-her-church) — Christian Mother Loses Appeal Over Taking Daughter To Her Church
- [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/national/2026/09/maines-high-court-rules-father-can-restrict-daughters-church-attendance) — Maine’s high court rules father can restrict daughter’s church attendance – WTOP News
- [National Review](https://nationalreview.com/2026/09/the-court-tries-to-give-god-a-restraining-order) — The Court Tries to Give God a Restraining Order
- [LifeSiteNews](https://lifesitenews.com/news/mom-cant-read-bible-to-daughter-or-take-her-to-church-maine-supreme-court) — Mom can’t read Bible to daughter or take her to church: Maine Supreme Court
- [thehornnews.com](https://thehornnews.com/court-rules-father-can-stop-daughter-from-attending-church) — Court rules father can stop daughter from attending church – The...
- [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/maine-s-high-court-rules-father-can-restrict-daughter-s-church-attendance/article_8c42d95f-8ee6-5219-8fac-6806a5eb46f7.html) — Maine’s high court rules father can restrict daughter’s church attendance
- [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/maine-parents-dispute-daughter-evangelical-church-f21e6c1a3dbc36a083f31aaaa447824c) — Maine’s high court rules father can restrict daughter’s church attendance
- [Goshen News](https://goshennews.com/news/national_news/maine-s-high-court-rules-father-can-restrict-daughter-s-church-attendance/article_851cfc6b-1db7-59b0-bf03-48040cca594c.html) — Maine’s high court rules father can restrict daughter’s church attendance
- [friendlyatheist.com](https://friendlyatheist.com/p/maine-supreme-court-says-dad-can) — Maine Supreme Court says dad can block daughter from attending mom’s harmful church
- [End Time Headlines](https://endtimeheadlines.org/2026/09/maines-high-court-rules-father-can-restrict-his-daughters-church-attendance) — Maine’s high court rules father can restrict his daughter’s church attendance
- [Bangor Daily News](https://bangordailynews.com/2026/09/02/state/state-police-courts/maine-supreme-court-father-church-attendance-restrictions) — Maine’s high court rules father can restrict daughter’s church attendance
- [wfmd.com](https://wfmd.com/2026/09/02/maines-high-court-gives-father-final-say-over-daughters-church-attendance) — Maine’s high court gives father final say over daughter’s church attendance
- [The Christian Post](https://christianpost.com/news/dad-can-bar-child-from-going-to-moms-church-maine-high-court.html) — Dad can forbid child from attending church with mother, Maine high court rules
- [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/news/world/maine-s-high-court-rules-father-can-restrict-daughter-s-church-attendance/article_a4e5f84a-e383-53f6-a5d1-db4531c65251.html) — Maine’s high court rules father can restrict daughter’s church attendance
- [World](https://wng.org/sift/maines-top-court-rules-mom-cant-bring-child-to-church-1788351700) — Maine’s top court rules mom can’t bring child to church
- [Maine Public](https://mainepublic.org/courts-and-crime/2026-09-02/maine-supreme-court-upholds-fathers-sole-authority-over-religious-and-medical-decisions-for-child) — Maine Supreme Court upholds father's sole authority over religious and medical decisions for child
- [🔔 The Liberty Daily](https://thelibertydaily.com/no-christian-church-order-couples-daughter-gets-appealed) — "No Christian Church" Order for Couple's Daughter Gets Appealed to U.S. Supreme Court
- [OpsLens](https://opslens.com/watch-no-christian-church-order-for-couples-daughter-gets-appealed-to-u-s-supreme-court-worldnetdaily-by-bob-unruh) — ‘No Christian church’ order for couple’s daughter gets appealed to U.S. Supreme Court * WorldNetDaily * by Bob Unruh
- [WND](https://wnd.com/2026/09/watch-no-christian-church-order-couples-daughter-gets) — ‘No Christian church’ order for couple’s daughter gets appealed to U.S. Supreme Court * WorldNetDaily * by Bob Unruh
- [wndnewscenter.org](https://wndnewscenter.org/watch-no-christian-church-order-for-couples-daughter-gets-appealed-to-u-s-supreme-court) — ‘No Christian church’ order for couple’s daughter gets appealed to U.S. Supreme Court * WND News Center
- [WMTW](https://wmtw.com/article/maine-supreme-judicial-court-ruling-emily-bickford-parental-rights-church/73584868) — Maine SJC denies mother's appeal of order that stops her from taking daughter to church
- [The Maine Monitor](https://themainemonitor.org/high-court-rules-father-can-restrict-church-attendance) — Maine court rules father can restrict daughter’s church attendance
- [Portland Press Herald](https://pressherald.com/2026/09/01/maines-high-court-agrees-mother-cant-take-daughter-to-calvary-chapel) — Maine’s high court says mother can’t take daughter to Calvary Chapel without father’s permission
- [Central Maine News](https://centralmaine.com/2026/09/01/maines-high-court-agrees-mother-cant-take-daughter-to-calvary-chapel) — Maine’s high court agrees mother can’t take daughter to Calvary Chapel
- [Lewiston Sun Journal](https://sunjournal.com/2026/09/01/maines-high-court-agrees-mother-cant-take-daughter-to-calvary-chapel) — Maine’s high court agrees mother can’t take daughter to Calvary Chapel

## Questions

**What did the Maine Supreme Judicial Court rule?**

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled on September 1 that a father can decide whether his daughter attends an evangelical church. This decision upholds a lower court's ruling from 2024 regarding the child's religious upbringing.

**Why did the father want to restrict his daughter's church attendance?**

The father, Matthew Bradeen, argued that the evangelical church was a dangerous and harmful environment that caused his daughter anxiety. He cited a panic attack she experienced after hearing teachings on the rapture.

**Will the mother appeal the decision?**

Yes, the mother's lawyer, Mathew Staver of Liberty Counsel, has stated plans to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. This indicates a potential further legal battle over the daughter's religious upbringing.

---

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