Why is There No - "Organized Volunteerism" - South of the Border?

This was the unanswered question in the April 7 Pittsburgh Catholic, the newspaper of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in an article titled, "Spanish-Speaking Group Builds Ties to Community."

The article is about the Knights of Columbus trying to start a Spanish-speaking council in the Pittsburgh area. An interesting statement was made:

"Latino people are often not familiar with the Knights of Columbus. It is not well-known in Mexico, and organized volunteerism is not common in Spanish-speaking countries."

Question – WHY is "organized volunteerism...not common in Spanish-speaking countries?"

Answer – The article gives none!!

However, here are a few plausible explanations that any Roman publication would conveniently neglect to mention:

1. After 500 years of Catholicism in Latin America, the poverty is still so grinding that people are just trying to eek out a subsistence, and have no time for organized volunteerism.

2. The "Church" and the State "in Spanish-speaking countries," in holding on to their power, have always had a vested interest in limiting organized societies of any kind.

3. Why should they organize? After all, it's easier to illegally enter the USA, where they know they'll be protected by the likes of George W. Bush, Teddy Kennedy, and the Catholic Church.

Please pray that God protects the USA from – illegal immigration – the Roman Catholic Church – and – George W. Bush.