A Maine mother has been ordered by a court to stop reading the Bible to her daughter in her own home. Emily Bickford, a Christian mother, has been embroiled in a long-running custody dispute over the religious upbringing of her daughter, Ava. After becoming a Christian several years after Ava's birth, Bickford began taking her to church and teaching her the faith. The dispute intensified after Ava expressed interest in being baptized.

A December 2024 court order restricted Bickford's ability to bring Ava to her church and gave the child's father significant authority over decisions concerning religious upbringing and medical care. Most notably, the order prohibits Bickford from reading the Bible to her daughter in her own home, a direct infringement on her religious freedom.

Despite the restrictions, Ava continues to independently read the Bible and maintain her faith. Bickford plans to petition the U.S. Supreme Court with the help of Liberty Counsel. She continues to pray for Ava's father, asking that he come to know Christ, while trusting God with both the legal battle and her family's future.

The case raises urgent questions: can a court forbid a mother from reading Scripture to her child? The answer, in Maine, appears to be yes. The question is whether the Supreme Court will reverse a decision that strikes at the heart of religious liberty. The Bickford family is fighting not just for Ava, but for every parent's right to pass on the faith. The battle is not over. And the stakes could not be higher.

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