BOSTON -- A fitness club ad running in Boston magazine that depicts nuns sketching a naked man has triggered protests among some members of the Bay State's Catholic community.

The ad for the Equinox Fitness Club is running in this month's issue and some Catholic organizations blasted the photo saying it was offensive.

C.J. Doyle of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts said the ad shows contempt for the Catholic religion.

"It says a great deal about this perverse obsession in both the fashion industry and the advertising industry of exploiting and mocking and sexualizing Catholic religious imagery," Doyle said.

The fitness company responded with a written statement saying, "Our ad campaigns are based on personal motivation and fantasy and throughout history the body has been considered a form of art."

The Daughters Of Saint Paul said they are taking the high road and not worrying about the ad.

"It is crass, but there are a lot of crass things that I don't pay attention to. I don't need to," said Sister Martha Moss.

"We work in the media all the time and we know that these things come and go and the best thing is to let them go," said Sister Kathryn Hermes.

The company only has one gym in Boston.