Politicians are used to getting harsh letters critical of positions they take, but a recent letter to U.S. Sen. Harry Reid from a high-ranking member of his church shows the depth and passion that some Mormons feel about the need to amend the U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

Reid, leader of the Senate's Democrats, says he believes marriage should be between a man and a woman, and he voted for a state ballot question placing that language into the Nevada Constitution, yet he opposes placing the ban in the U.S. Constitution. He said he believes Republicans raised the amendment as a political ploy to help them during the upcoming election season.

"This is another one of the president's efforts to frighten, to distort, to distract and to confuse America. It is this administration's way of avoiding the tough, real problems," he said in a Senate speech on June 5 before the vote. Congress should be addressing the war, high gasoline prices and other serious issues instead of debating the banning of gay marriages, he said.

His opposition to a federal constitutional amendment puts Reid at odds with top leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who asked church members to support the amendment and to encourage their congressional delegation to support it.

Some weeks after a Senate vote on whether to end debate on the amendment, Reid wrote a letter to Nevada Mormon bishops explaining his position. That letter sparked a letter from James Howard, president of the Las Vegas East Stake between 1994 and 2005, who wrote to Reid in the strongest possible language.

Howard wrote that by not supporting the constitutional amendment, "You chose your party's agenda over Nevadans', over your Prophets' wishes, and defied God in the process. ... You have sold out for power and position. Whining about how offended you are that your 'Brethren' are not supportive of you anymore is not becoming of a leader of such high position. Justifying your weak stance in direct opposition to your Church's position is lame. You fear your party more than God."

Howard concluded: "But having sold out your Church, your State and possibly your soul for political power, I will have a hard time supporting you or voting for you in the future, should you attempt to hold on to your seat. Your soul is vacant, and you have lost your moral compass."

Howard said he never intended the letter to become public and regrets that it has.

"This was a personal letter. I was not speaking for anybody else. I was not speaking for the Church. It was my opinion," he said.

However, he stands by what he wrote.

Howard's letter shows the depth of feeling that many people have about a gay marriage amendment and the delicate tightrope Reid walks in balancing his faith with his political positions. While gay rights activists consider Reid a friend because of his position, he clearly has lost support among Mormons.

Reid never responded to Howard's July 30 letter, nor did he have any comment for this column. Instead, his office provided a copy of his original letter to the bishops. He reminded them that he voted for the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 to deny federal recognition of same-sex marriage and not require a state to recognize other states' marriage laws.

"I understand that others differ with me on this issue, and that their opinions are sincerely and deeply held," Reid wrote.

"I respect their right to hold and express those opinions. I expect those who differ with me to give me the same consideration," he wrote. "I have been shocked and offended at the malice and rancor with which many who disagree with me on this issue have personally attacked me. Frankly, I expect better of my fellow saints who share with me reverence for Jesus's example of forbearance, patience, and love."

It's impossible to know whether Howard's position is held by a majority or a minority of LDS church members, so it's impossible to evaluate whether Reid's position is more of a political gain with gay rights activists or a political loss among his church's members. But it can't be easy receiving a furious letter like Howard's, knowing you are in a no-win situation that never will be resolved or go away, and that nobody's opinion ever will be changed, which is why it's the perfect wedge issue.

Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. E-mail her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call 383-0275.