But there is opposition to the church’s strategy. One vocal critic of Nienstedt is the Rev. Mike Tegeder, who spoke against the amendment at a priests’ meeting with Nienstedt in October.

In November, Tegeder received a letter stating that if he did not end his public opposition, Nienstedt would suspend his “faculties to exercise ministry” and remove him from his “ministerial assignments.”

Marking the first clear standoff over the church’s role in the amendment, Tegeder is not backing down.

He said he believes the church is being too political and contends that it’s inappropriate for its leaders to campaign in support of the amendment.

“That’s not the way to support marriage,” said Tegeder, pastor at both St. Frances Cabrini and Gichitwaa Kateri churches in Minneapolis. “If we want to support marriage, there are wonderful things we can do as Catholic churches and ministers. We should not be focused on beating up a small number of people who have this desire to have committed relationships.”