IOW, your question has no validity.
First, thanks for your earlier comments about my post on prayer. Sorry, but I had to run errands this morning and just got home so I didn't see it till now.
Now, to this issue. I don't think this does make my question invalid at all. I think you might interpret it that way since I think you read into my comment that I was using Mexico because its Catholic. In fact, I think the cases you cite of Ireland and Italy are good examples of what I am saying.
My point is having access to the Truth, whether that Truth be the Bible or Church Teaching based on the Bible or whatever, is not sufficient. One must also have the desire to practice that truth. Italy (and we've discussed Ireland, before, and I'm still not convinced it has a significantly low birth rate vis-a-vis other European countries) is a prime example of this. Correct me if I'm wrong, but abortion is legal in Italy, isn't it? Thus, even though Italy is supposed to be a Catholic country fully steeped in the dogmas of the Truth, its apparent said Truth has little impact on society, today.
You are right concerning Italy. I believe abortion has been legal for more than 20 years.
Concerning Ireland; I believe I read recently that the birth rate is too low to be self substaning.
POPULATION NEWS A Declining Population — No Joke
Some people in Irish media circles sought to make a joke of the Pope’s address to the Italian Parliament on Italy’s declining birth rate.
However, Irishcommentators seemed unaware that the birth rate in Ireland is now well below replacement level. What we seem unable to grasp is that for the past half dozen years or more, the Irish birth rate has dipped well below the natural replacement level, and remains there.
Twenty years ago we had a birth rate of 21.5 per 1000, but by the year 2002, this had fallen to 14.3 per 1000. The effect of population implosion across Europe and much of the western world is no joke. Already the United Nations demographers are worried.
Those who are pushing the anti-life policies of the contraceptive movement, with claims that the world’s population would soon be too large, are now ready to admit that a declining population in the major economies of the world will create major headaches.