Do Catholics believe in equality

Answer 1

Officially, the Roman Catholic Church considers that all human beings are equal in that they have an immortal soul and are creatures of God. This makes every human being a recipient of the commandment, "Love thy neighbor as thyself". To this end, every human being is entitled to know God's Truth, have a chance at salvation and obtain those things necessary to live towards achieving the goal of salvation.

The Catholic Church, however, does not espouse the modern ideas of equality. It recognizes inequality among the sexes, peoples abilities and talents, positions of power, good and evil, intelligence, what is truth, etc. The Church position is often looked upon as intolerant, as if It puts some things on a higher plane while debasing others. This is not so, rather the Church seeks balance by recognizing things as they are in reality, according to their nature.

To illustrate this, consider this example:

Men and women are not equal: Equal in soul yes, and their human nature, however, men and women have different bodies and dispositions; they are designed differently. The body is specifically designed for a purpose and men and women, by their natural bodies, have different talents, abilities, and hence purposes. The Church seeks that both men and women can embrace themselves as men and women and thus work together at helping each other by being true men and true women. The result of this is balance, for the two sexes compliment each other. To say that men and women are completely equal and then practically act upon it is to interrupt the natural balance of how men and women are made and interact in the world.

Thus the Church strives for balance, that things may be allowed to be as they are. Part of the reality of this world is inequality, and this inequality is necessary for things to run. Often sin tips this inequality into a bad situation. Humans often respond with utopian ideals, thinking that if they wipe out the inequality, they will prevent the problem altogether in the future. But virtue is balance. Thus the Church strives for virtue, seeking to maintenance the inequality in the world in order to achieve a balance that is beneficial to the common good.

Answer 2

Roman Catholic AnswerYes, of course they do:

from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 19941934 Created in the image of the one God and equally endowed with rational souls, all men have the same nature adn the same origin. Redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ, all are called to participate in the same divine beatitude: all therfore enjoy an equal dignity.