Faith, Fear, and Family Courts | Salt Lake City News

A Maine court battle pits parental religious freedom against a child’s psychological well-being, after a father won sole authority over his daughter’s religious upbringing after her mother took her to a church with “vivid descriptions of Hell.” The case escalated when the Maine Supreme Judicial Court upheld the ruling in September, shifting focus to the child’s best interest — not strict scrutiny — and allowing the father to make final decisions on religion and medical care. The mother, who appealed, now plans to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Meanwhile, new research shows faith is passed down through generations: kids whose parents attend church weekly are more than twice as likely to remain religious adults — especially when both parents are involved and maintain strong relationships. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.deseret.com/faith/2026/09/16/parents-maine-child-religion-dispute/ More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/62527cd6e43ea896 Report issues to [email protected].