New York, Apr 27: Cosmopolitan magazine’s new executive editor has created a stir by blaming Catholic nuns for ruining women''s sex lives.

Editor Nicole Beland was asked by a reader in her final April column, "My sexually repressed wife can''t even say ''sex'' without whispering. How can I help her open up?"

To which Beland replied, "It''s not easy to undo damage caused by years of exposure to Catholic-school nuns or overly conservative parents.

“She may need therapy to accept that sex can be a wholesome and glorious thing . . . Every positive thing you say about sex will undo some of the negativity she''s been brainwashed to feel her whole life," she added.

‘Enraged’ Catholic League president William Donohue has criticized Beland for her views.

"It would never occur to Beland that a woman who is sexually repressed might have been molested growing up," the New York Post quoted Donohue as saying.

“No, for Beland it is empirically obvious that Sister Mary Alice did it . . . Imagine some poor soul asking about his sexually promiscuous wife. Imagine Beland answering, ''It''s not easy to undo damage caused by years of exposure to Jewish-school teachers or overly liberal parents,'' " he added.

Beland retorted: "I can''t believe that after writing a sex and relationship advice column for eight years, that this is the first thing that Bill Donohue has taken issue with. Clearly he''s not a devoted reader.

"My advice . . . was, as always, based on my personal experiences. I went to Catholic school for eight long years and am now working at

Cosmopolitan magazine, so obviously I''m aware that lengthy exposure to nuns doesn''t kill everyone''s sex drive.

“But could it put a damper on someone''s appetite for action? Yeah, I think so,” she added. (ANI)