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Single mom battling custody order barring her from taking daughter to church

Michie

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A single mother is challenging a custody order that prohibits her from taking her 12-year-old daughter to a Calvary Chapel church in Maine after a lower court accepted the claim that the denomination is a "cult," granting the girl's father the power to determine which religious activities she's allowed to attend.

In combating the December 2024 custody order, the mother, Emily Bickford, is receiving legal assistance from the Liberty Counsel, a Christian legal group that has helped bring the mother's case before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

“Calvary Chapel is not a cult. This custody order banning Emily Bickford from taking her child to a Christian church because of its biblical teachings violates the First Amendment," Liberty Counsel founder and Chairman Mat Staver said in a statement shared with The Christian Post.

Continued below.
 
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stevevw

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I am interested in what exactly has caused the courts to think that the Calvery church is a cult. Because this could mean that any religion or denomination could be classed as a cult.

Determining something a cult is really a subjective determination. Unless there is some obvious harm then this is really a matter of opinion and belief itself. One belief determining another belief.

Its interesting that they mention that its because the biblical teachings violates the First Amendment. Is this the standard biblical teachings which all Christian denominations follow. If so this could set a precedent banning the bible as a belief.

I think this is a continuation and expansion of the growing dislike and attacks on Christian beliefs.

I have heard similar narratives about Christians who profess their beliefs. Progressives thinking the simple belief of traditional marriage and family, or pro life, opposing practicing LGB and Trans ideology is hateful and something that needs to be stopped.

There is clearly a divide and conflict growing between the world and Christian belief where Christianity and the bible are being made out as cultish, hateful, delusional, a cause of trouble and conflict and being seen as a threat to modern day norms.
 
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Hank77

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The mother and father share rights over which church their daughter attends, except in the case of this one particular church. The father believes that some of the things Calvary church teaches could be harmful to his daughter. The lower courts gave the father full control over her attending this one church.
I couldn't find what the church teaches that the dad objects to.

Not all churches teach what I would want my children/grandchildren taught.
When I was growing up, I am sure that my parents would never have allowed me to go to a Catholic church because of what the Catholic church teaches.
 
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RileyG

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It is common for custody decrees to specify which parent(s) has decision-making authority over health and education decisions. Now maybe religious upbringing, too?
That’s what I’m wondering, too.
 
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