The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights criticized the Emmy nominations for American Horror Story: Asylum that were announced Thursday, dismissing the show for its plot and characters.

"Few TV programs in recent years have been as thoroughly anti-Catholic as FX Channel's American Horror Story: Asylum," Catholic League president Bruce Donohue said in a statement Thursday.

American Horror Story: Asylum, the second installment in the American Horror Story anthology series, took place in the 1960s at an insane asylum run by priests and nuns. It was announced Thursday that the series received 17 Emmy nominations, the most for any program in the 2012-2013 TV season.

"The plot is sinister," Donohue continued. "Characters include a nymphomaniac, a lesbian, a degenerate bully, a serial killer, and a doctor who enjoys torturing patients."

Sarah Paulson plays the "lesbian," Zachary Quinto plays the "serial killer" and James Cromwell plays the "doctor who enjoys torturing patients." All three stars were nominated for Emmys for their performances, along with Jessica Lange as the troubled Sister Jude.

Donohue went on to explain that the Catholic League tried to put a critical ad condemning the series in The Hollywood Reporter and Variety, but the publications turned them away..

"This should have come as no surprise," he explained, in reference to the rejected ad. "Hollywood's hatred of Catholicism is almost pathological. Indeed, it extends even to the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, [the Emmy award organization]."

He argued that no other group receives "such treatment," adding that TV has "sunk lower than we ever thought possible."

For a full list of American Horror Story: Asylum's Emmy nominations, click here.

American Horror Story was also the leading nominations contender at the 2012 Emmy Awards, with Lange winning the Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie award. Next season, the show will be called American Horror Story: Coven and will feature witchcraft and magic in New Orleans.

American Horror Story: Coven will be premiering on FX in October. Watch this tribute video to American Horror Story: Asylum

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