America is a gynecocracy. Women rule us. Universities admit more women than men, corporations favor women in hiring, the legal system favors women in nearly all adjudicative disputes (especially divorce), women have more control over the sexual marketplace, and a woman is legally protected in murdering her own child in the womb—regardless of what the father wants—in nearly every state in the U.S. 

But, somehow, in some way, men are to blame. At least, this is the message for Catholics of ex-seminarian turned businessman James Baxter. Baxter created Exodus 90, a “spiritual exercise” program designed to help Catholic males become better men. Every Lent, it is now standard practice in many Catholic parishes across the United States for a priest to exhort men to join an Exodus 90 group.

Exodus 90’s marketing focuses particularly on the state of Catholic marriage. As Baxter explained on the “Catholic Late Night” podcast: 

When we look at so many of the struggles in marriage, not to just throw all blame and responsibility on the man, but when you talk to women what are most of their problems revolving around? A man in their lives!

To fix these so-called problem males, Baxter’s team will—for a small fee—put them in an Exodus 90 boot camp: three months of prayer, fasting, and intense self-denial. On top of daily spiritual reading and weekly group meetings, Exodus 90 includes daily cold showers, extra days of fasting, and abstention from all non-work-related electronic devices, alcohol, and sweets. 

Baxter explains that he and his associates considered making a women’s version of the program, but after they “made a discernment” with a women’s group, they decided—or discerned—against it. Instead, the Exodus 90 website recommends women join Endow Groups.

In contrast to the harrowing self-mortification and struggle sessions at Exodus 90, Endow Groups are social clubs where women gather, maybe read and discuss an essay written by Saint John Paul II, and pass around a dish of snacks. Endow, an acronym for “Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women,” encourages Catholic women to eat and talk more—apparently they aren’t doing those things enough! One of the first images visitors to the Endow home page see is women chatting around a plate of cookies. Exodus 90 is known to take weight off men; it is unlikely that Endow groups have the same effect on women. 

“Discover your dignity!” the Endow Groups website urges, in words inscribed over an image of scones and chocolate eclairs. The caption reads, “Through Endow groups, women encounter their identity as daughters of God, enabling them to grow in their faith and ultimately discover their mission in life.” 

The ladies clearly got the better of Baxter’s discernment.

Exodus 90 is predicated on the idea that men need hard work and self-denial to become much better than they currently are. Endow is predicated on the idea that women need to be affirmed in their inherent womanly dignity. 

Baxter further elaborates on the Exodus 90 website that he needn’t create a women’s Exodus journey because “In the end, our gift to women are sons, brothers, husbands, and priests who become who they are supposed to be for them.” (Emphasis added)

Whereas Endow Groups tell Catholic women to “discover their mission” for themselves, Exodus 90 tells Catholic men what their mission is: to serve women. Endow Groups tell women that their dignity is inherent to them; Exodus 90 tells men that their dignity depends on how well they serve women. This is nothing new.

Exodus 90 is simply the other side of the feminist coin. 

Side one of feminism: Encourage young women to put off marriage or not to get married at all. In the Church, this comes in the form of women’s groups and books that wax poetic on discernment. Catholics encourage young women to “discern,” and they go on discerning until a man worthy of their feminine dignity shows up—preferably more than six feet tall and making at least six figures. 

When the woman eventually realizes Brad Pitt is not coming, she becomes a “consecrated virgin” (what a big sacrifice for a 40-year-old woman to make!) It’s not hard to predict what happens next: smaller families, fewer families, declining birthrates, and unhappy people. 

Side two of feminism: Blame men for the inevitable results. This is the job of the Exodus 90 boys and the “traditionalist” Catholics who tell men to “man up!”

The future is a shrinking American Catholic Church dominated by two types of grifters:

1. The so-called Theology of the Body gurus who instruct young women on how they can—after much discernment and whining about the lack of good men—become consecrated virgins.
2. Catholic macho-men influencers who instruct men to partake in bizarre self-flagellation in the hope that they will one day win approval by becoming so-called good men.

The men are getting the short end of the stick, and it’s just a matter of time before they realize it and leave the Church. They will gravitate instead toward public controversialists, such as the pornographer and MMA fighter Andrew Tate, who at least have enough common sense and courage to tell these young men the truth: that what they see is in fact exactly what is happening. 

This future is not inevitable; Catholics can avert this disaster. The first step is to drive the grifters from the temple.