Female Revenge Still Terrifies Men
A modern fracas between Catholic priests and a Brooklyn witches tells us the ancient reason why
Whatever patriarchy is in 2018, it sure ain’t subtle. For instance: The Catholic Church is now employing an exorcist to protect Brett Kavanaugh from witches. The scenario comes straight from the Middle Ages; then, as now, the figure of the witch triggers men’s deep-seated fear of women’s capacity for resistance and revenge.
Earlier this month, Brooklyn occult store Catland announced that it would hold a public ritual on October 20 to hex Kavanaugh, along with “all rapists and the patriarchy which emboldens, rewards and protects them.” According to the event page, this ritual is meant to honor “witchcraft’s true roots as the magik of the poor, the downtrodden and disenfranchised and [its] history as often the only weapon, the only means of exacting justice available to those of us who have been wronged by men just like him.”
According to Catholic exorcist Father Gary Thomas — a man who seems perhaps unduly seduced by the worldly pleasures of media coverage; his memoirs previously formed the basis for the truly…
