CatholicVote calls out Harris for photo with controversial Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence drag nuns

The 30-second ad shows clips of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence performing while soundbites accuse the group of dressing "in lewd imitation of Roman Catholic nuns that intentionally mock and degrade Christians." It concludes by stating, "Kamala Harris stands with they/them, not with you," echoing a line from one of former President Trump's attack ads, which hits Harris over her support for transgender athletes playing in women's sports. 

CatholicVote says the ad will be texted directly to one million Catholic voters in swing states and sent to 750,000 activist subscribers of its email newsletter, "The Loop." 

It's the latest example of conservatives accusing Harris of a history of anti-Catholic political rhetoric and actions that Republicans hope will sway the critical voting bloc to their cause on Election Day. 

"Kamala Harris has finally lost the Catholic vote," Trump asserted Friday on his Truth Social platform. "Her and the Democrat's persecution of the Catholic Church is unprecedented! Her poll numbers have dropped like a rock, both with Catholics, and otherwise." 

The Harris campaign did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. 

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence was the focus of national controversy last year when the Los Angeles Dodgers chose to honor the LGBTQ charity with an award on the field of Dodger Stadium during Pride Month. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) called the decision "blasphemy" at the time. CatholicVote started a $1 million advertising campaign that urged the faithful to boycott the baseball team over its support for the Sisters. 

Dressed in a rainbow outfit, Harris delivered brief remarks at the Pride event, celebrating San Francisco's prominent role in the movement for LGBTQ rights and her own record supporting same-sex marriage. She reminded the crowd that she officiated the marriage of Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, a lesbian couple, at San Francisco City Hall. Perry and Stier were the original plaintiffs in a lawsuit that successfully overturned California's Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that said, "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." 

A picture of Harris posing with Sister Roma at the event is featured prominently in the CatholicVote ad. 

CatholicVote President Brian Burch called the Sisters "one of the most vile, bigoted and offensive anti-Catholic organizations in America," though the group denies that it mocks religious women or is a threat to people of faith.  

"They've used the crucifix as a sex prop, mocked the Virgin Mary and used Christian symbols as sex toys," Burch told Fox News Digital in an interview. "And yet, Kamala Harris proudly stood with them and their founder. We are calling on Kamala Harris to disavow this highly offensive anti-Catholic hate group." 

Roma told Fox News Digital the Sisters are a "peace-loving, inclusive, compassionate, and charitable organization with members who devote their lives to community service, fundraising, and activism." 

"While many of our members adopt the iconography of a Nun, we do not mock religious women or advocate or practice hatred, hostility, or violence toward members of any religion," Roma said. "We are a reflection of the communities we serve, working tirelessly to minister to the sick, feed the hungry, fight for civil rights, raise money for important causes and charities, promulgate universal joy, and expiate stigmatic guilt.

Burch insisted that most Catholics feel differently and demanded that Harris apologize for appearing on stage with Roma.

"The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are this terrible, vile, hateful, anti-Catholic group. And she stood with them. She needs to apologize. She needs to disavow them. And she needs to explain whether or not she agrees with a group of perverted men who dress up to mock Catholic religious sisters, and whether that's the kind of leadership she wants to bring to this country," he said. 

"If so, I think the choice for Catholics is very obvious." 

A spokesperson for the Harris campaign did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.