Perhaps. But there is also, often, poverty, tyranny and political corruption. For all three, think the Catholic countries of South America, Mexico Central America. For two out of three, think Philippines. The politically incorrect truth is that free, stable, representative political institutions arose in and out of Protestant countries. My protestant (Hugenot) ancestors fled Louis XIV's Catholic France because he was a dictator. The America settlers fought the French in the French and Indian Wars for the same reason - to defend themselves against Catholic authoritarianism. Today, immigrants are flooding north out of Mexico and South America because their catholic cultures may have offered plenty of "good red wine," but little in the way of political stability or safety or prosperity.
What affected Europe during the 19th century, affected Latin America during the late 19th century and 20th. The ills of that region have more to do with revolutionary ideology from Europe than Catholicism.
Why did they fight the British?
This must be a Freeper First! I’ve never before seen a post against someone’s tag line. I’m sure you’d have strong opinion on my other one: “Our Lady’s Hat Society.” Would you care to comment on that one, too?
That can just as easily be an indictment of Spanish and Portuguese colonialism as it is of Catholicism. It's debatable whether an authentically Catholic culture was ever established in Latin America or the Philippines.