just talk

When it comes to equality, Protestant countries are distinctly more equal than Catholic countries - except in thought. This is so when we refer to gender equality, equality in the distribution of income and all other forms of external equality, such as dress and manners.

Protestants believe that people are born equal and are to remain equal for the rest of their lives. Catholics also believe that people are born equal but they are to differentiate themselves through life. Ultimatley, only a few will get to the top (see here). In Protestant culture people remain individuals thoughout their lives. In Catholic culture they become persons. It is the concept of personality that distinguishes the Catholic man from his Protestant counterpart.

Socialism in all its variants from communism to social-democracy with its goal of making all people equal is a distinctly Protestant ideology. It originated in Germany. It could never originate in a Catholic country. Sure, Catholic countries do have socialist parties. They are imported from abroad. In Portugal, one can say that most parties are socialist - BE, PCP, PS, PSD - and even CDS/PP has in recent years moved in the same direction. One should not forget that the founder of CDS/PP moved himself to the socialist camp recently.

This is merely part of that homogeneity of thought which is typical of Catholic countries and, in this respect, of Portugal more than any another country. Catholic peoples cannot live without an orthodoxy. It is the orthodoxy that unites them. Looking from outside, it would appear that we are all socialists now. Forget about it. It is just talk, also very typical of Catholic countries. In words, you will find a lot of generous socialists in the country; in practice, they are the most radical individualists. When socialists of all sorts get political power they immediately put socialismo na gaveta. This has happened with Mr. Mário Soares. Mr. José Sócrates is being accused of doing the same. Under socialist governments income inequality tends to increase in Portugal. It is happening again.