The April 2022 issue of the Revealer focuses on horror, both in films and in real life. In his editor’s letter, Brett Krutzsch considers how examining what is horrible can offer commentary on society, on the dangers of excess power, and on life’s vulnerabilities.
The issue marks the launch of our three-part series on “Catholic Horrors” that we will publish over the next three months. The series will explore the genre of Catholic horror found in such films as The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby alongside actual horrors committed by the Catholic Church. Jack Downey opens the series with “Catholic Monsters, Priests, and Supernatural Dread,” where he looks at the history of Americans depicting Catholic priests and nuns as depraved, then as a source of protection against the occult, and finally with renewed skepticism as the sex abuse scandal unfolded.
In the issue’s next article, Christina Pasqua reviews the horror film Saint Maud and considers if feeling God’s presence is a sign of mental illness or if it would feel as terrifying as demonic presence.
The issue also explores horrors unfolding in the present day. In an excerpt from her new book Between Heaven and Russia, Sarah Riccardi-Swartz investigates why American converts to Russian Orthodoxy are drawn to Vladimir Putin and his vision for a Christian nation.
Next, in “Writing about Healthcare, Religion, and Equality” Kali Handelman interviews former Revealer editor (and acclaimed author) Ann Neumann about her work to expose inequities in nursing homes, the medical industry, and the systems that keep certain people perpetually vulnerable.
Then, in “A Sanctuary for Abortion: How Sanctuary Reveals the Fears of Our Time,” Michael Woolf explores the history of sanctuary movements in the United States, from churches that protected Vietnam War resisters to California’s recent announcement that it will provide sanctuary to anyone seeking an abortion if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.
And, in “Changing Stereotypes of South Asians On Screen,” Bhakti Mamtora reflects on the all-too-common painful stereotypes of South Asians and reviews two recent programs that are attempting to change how South Asians are portrayed on television.
The April issue also features the newest episode of the Revealer podcast: “For Putin, God, and Country: American Converts to the Russian Orthodox Church.” Sarah Riccardi-Swartz joins us to discuss why Americans with no ethnic ties to Russia are converting to Russian Orthodoxy. We explore their political views, their frustrations with democracy, their love of Vladimir Putin, and what all of this means for America and the war in Ukraine today. You can listen to this important episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
