Catholic League blasts Amazon, Wal-Mart for offensive priest, nun costumes

Amazon and Wal-Mart are both under fire from the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights on Tuesday for selling sexually suggestive and offensive designs mocking priests and nuns.

The companies “have one standard for transgender persons and one for Catholics: they will not tolerate the slightest insults to the former, but they have no problem offending the latter,” said the New York-based group in a Tuesday news release, noting an occasion earlier in October when websites for both companies removed a “Tranny Granny” costume design after complaints on social media.

The Catholic League singled out two costumes from each website it found offensive, including a priest costume complete with an erection and a pregnant-nun design.

“There are no excuses for what Amazon is doing, but Wal-Mart is worse,” complained the Catholic League. “It likes to tout itself as a ’Christian-friendly’ store, yet when it comes to Catholics, it drops its guard.”

In early October, Amazon removed a “sexy burqa” costume after that design caused a stir. A search of “sexy nun” on Tuesday yields 195 hits.

The Catholic League did have one positive note for a rival retailer in its Oct. 18 press release, cheering Target for not carrying the offensive designs. The Minneapolis-based retailer has previously been the focus of social-conservative ire over its transgender bathroom-use policies.