Maine High Court Upholds Father's Authority Over Daughter's Church Attendance
Maine's highest court has affirmed a lower court's decision granting Matthew Bradeen final authority over whether his daughter can attend Calvary Chapel of Greater Portland. This ruling stems from a 2024 request by Bradeen to enforce his co-parenting agreement with Emily Bickford, after he alleged she was taking their daughter to church events without his knowledge. Bradeen expressed concern for his daughter's well-being, citing a panic attack she experienced after one sermon. An expert hired by Bradeen testified that Calvary Chapel's teachings and structure were 'confusing and troubling' for children of the daughter's age, and that her attendance was not entirely voluntary. District Court Judge Jennifer Nofsinger initially granted Bradeen this authority, a decision that also extended to medical decisions, including vaccines. Bickford appealed, arguing the order violated her constitutional rights as a parent and was hostile to her religion. However, Chief Justice Valerie Stanfill, in a unanimous opinion, s... 
