A controversial art exhibit in Pamplona, Spain is upsetting local Catholics.

Artnet reports a performance artist named Abel Azcona has created an exhibit that contains 242 consecrated hosts. A number of the eucharists displayed in the exhibit, which is called “Unearthed,” were spread along the floor of the exhibition hall and arranged to spell out the word "pederastia" (pederasty).

The exhibition also contains a series of photos that show the artist taking the hosts during mass and putting them on the ground.

The expressed intent of the show is to honor those who were kidnapped and killed under Francisco Franco’s decades of dictatorship.

As The Catholic News Agency reports, The Christian Lawyers Association has filed a lawsuit against Azcona for violating Spanish law.

Polonia Catellanos, a spokesperson for the Christian Lawyers Association, said that the exhibit is an offense against religious sentiments and desecration. The CLA says that under Articles 524 and 525 of the Spanish Penal Code the exhibit is in fact illegal.

“We’ve also given the Pamplona City Council until Thursday to close down the art exhibit. If they don't do it, we'll expand the lawsuit to include charges of complicity and necessary cooperation," Castellanos said.

Castellanos went on to voice surprise at the fact that the exhibit was allowed to be displayed at all. “I don’t know why a city council, no matter of what political stripe, would allow something which is clearly a crime,” Castellanos said, adding, “The penal code is for everyone and if they don't pull the exhibit before Thursday they're going to have to answer for it.”

Azcona, who has a criminal record, could face a jail time in addition to a fine.

This is of course not the first time that a work of contemporary art has caused a stir among religious groups.

In 1987, a photo by Andres Serrano called “Piss Christ” received plenty of attention showing a small plastic crucifix floating in the artist's urine. In 1996, a painting by Chris Ofili called “The Holy Virgin Mary” created much controversy as the image of the holy virgin was made up of photographs of female genitalia, glitter and elephant dung.