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Gender Equity

All people should be treated equally regardless of sex or gender identity.
“The Catholic Church has long since been a primary global carrier of the toxic virus of misogyny. Its leadership has never sought a cure for that virus, though the cure is freely available: Its name is equality.”
Mary McAleese

The Catholic hierarchy teaches that God created a binary system of male and female bodies that are supposed to complement each other. They believe that women and men are equal in worth and dignity, yet their physical and anatomical differences are evidence that God intends different roles and purposes for them in church, society and the family. This system not only reinforces women’s suffering but oversimplifies the complexity of gender identity, erasing whole communities of people made in God’s image.

Men are always awarded power, authority and dominance, women are relegated to the roles of service, nurturing and adoration, and non-binary or gender non-conforming people are not even recognized.

Catholics for Choice believes that God’s creation is far more complex. We do not accept that an individual’s purpose is bound by biology or anatomy, and the notion that sex is a binary of male and female is scientifically inaccurate. We work towards a world that treats all people equally regardless of sex, gender identity, or gender expression.

Francis' Blind Spot

Pope Francis’ attitude toward women is a traditional Catholic hierarchical attempt to combine binary stereotypes about women.

Francis on Women

Questions about Gender Equity

We've compiled these talking points to help inform Catholic conversations about gender equity.

What does patriarchy mean?
What's the difference between sex and gender?
What does gender identity mean?
Is gender identity a choice?
What should I do if my child is transgender?
Can Catholics be transgender?
How are transgender issues connected to abortion?