Christian mother BANNED from taking daughter to church as US court rules teachings were 'psychologically damaging'

 A Christian mother has been banned from taking her 13-year-old daughter to church after Maine's highest court upheld a controversial custody order.

Emily Bickford appeared before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Tuesday to challenge a ruling preventing her from taking her daughter to Calvary Chapel in Westbrook, Maine. 

The court upheld an earlier decision granting the girl's father, Matthew Bradeen, sole authority over whether their daughter can attend the evangelical church.

Mr Bradeen had argued that the congregation represented a "dangerous and harmful environment" for his daughter, who was 11 when the original order was imposed in December 2024.

He claimed the girl developed anxiety and panic attacks after being exposed to sermons about the rapture. The rapture is an evangelical Christian belief that faithful Christians will be taken to heaven during the end times, while others will remain on Earth.

The original custody order was imposed by Portland District Court in December 2024 before Ms Bickford's legal team challenged the decision in Maine's highest court.

FULL REPORT AT: https://www.gbnews.com/news/us/maine-christian-mother-banned-daughter-court-teachings-damaging