Officials at the Catholic League have lashed out at the brains behind new movie comedy remake The Three Stooges for putting supermodel Kate Upton in a barely-there bikini for a racy scene.

The Sports Illustrated cover girl, who plays Sister Bernice in the film, strips down to a lacy black 'nun-kini' swimsuit and wimple for a pool scene in the new Farrelly brothers film - and religious leaders are not amused.

A statement from Catholic League president Bill Donohue reads, "In the 1950s, Hollywood generally avoided crude fare and was respectful of religion. Today it specializes in crudity and trashes Christianity, especially Catholicism. Enter The Three Stooges."

"The movie is not just another remake: It is a cultural marker of sociological significance, and what it says about the way we've changed is not encouraging."

Defiant studio executives at Fox have struck back, stating, "The movie, in keeping with the spirit of the original TV show and its stars, is a broad, slapstick comedy."

"As the Stooges have proved over time, laughter is a universal medicine. The nuns that Mr. Donohue alludes to, are in fact, caring, heroic characters in the movie, albeit within the framework of a very broad comedy."

"And as far as the nun attire, I think we did the audience a favor by letting Kate Upton wear the nun-kini rather than (co-star) Larry David - it could have gone either way. We invite you to see the movie and decide for yourselves."

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