Many if not most Americans have religious beliefs and these disputes can become so intense that on the basis of them, parents have asked for a change in custody. On occasion, courts have ordered changes in custody when religious fervor on the part of the custodial parent has been shown to be harmful to the child.

In general, courts have ruled that while the custodial parent determines a child’s day-to-day religious training, both the noncustodial and custodial parent have a right to expose a child to their religious beliefs unless doing so is in some way harmful to the child. Mere stress and even confusion are generally not seen as meeting that standard.

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