Leaving the fold

Leaving the fold: Former Mormon bishop walks away from the faith of his ancestors in protest of church leaders ‘stifling’ his freedom to ask troubling historic questions

Bob McCue of Calgary doesn’t fit the stereotype of a religious dissident. He’s a tax lawyer with a national law firm and father of seven who likes to coach basketball in his spare time.

But those familiar with McCue’s story know of his passion for spiritual issues.

Born in Edmonton, McCue was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), where his religious roots run deep. McCue’s Mormon ancestors helped settle southern Alberta. His family traces back to the founding of Mormonism, including a great-grandmother who was the fourth polygamous wife of a high-ranking church leader.

McCue served a two-year Mormon mission in Peru as a young man and went on to accept many time-consuming leadership roles in his church’s system of lay clergy, including bishop of a local ward for almost five years.

In December 2002, he formally cancelled his membership in the conservative church of his birth.

It was a drastic move, but one that he speaks about publicly, providing a rare glimpse into the tension between religious authority and personal interpretation. Mormons believe theirs is the only true church on Earth, that the prophet leading it today speaks directly for God, and only those who follow their tenets will reside in the highest level of heaven in the hereafter.

McCue was disturbed by what he learned as he looked closely at Mormon history, and he grew frustrated by the “stifling” reaction of denominational leaders.
[...]

Bob McCue’s writings on spirituality can be found on his personal website at

http://mccue.cc/bob/spirituality.htm

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