Nora, you are quite right about Latin America, especially in Brazil. The lay preaching is tremendous as is the music in any number of churches there. Nuns also do a lot, running so many institutions and filling in or working along side active or designated lay people in parishes. But the homilies or preaching is what strikes one and the music, with whole congregations singing, loudly and stoutheartedly. Of course, bishops in many of these regions simply accept it. There aren't enough priests, so lay people take over. They allow it or simply look the other way, let it ride. One thing's for sure, however -- you don't hear of mergers, not when Congregations can come up with designated lay people -- lay preachers, deacons, advisors, administrators, etc. And although some Brazilian bishops have asked their fellow bishops as a national body (in the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops) to ordain worthy men to the priesthood, the Conference hasn't opted for that (yet).