Final answer:
The Catholic Church has influenced family planning policies in regions with a strong cultural presence, such as parts of Europe, Latin America, and certain US counties. While direct fertility-limiting policies are rare, societal changes and education are effective at reducing family sizes. High fertility rates present challenges for resource allocation and achieving improved living standards.
Step-by-step explanation:
The country where the Catholic Church has most recently been successful in influencing family planning policies is not explicitly stated. However, globally, it is observed that the Catholic Church plays a more prominent role in regions where it has a strong presence, such as parts of Europe, Latin America, and in US counties with strong Hispanic influence. In these regions, the Church's stance on contraception and its advocacy for larger families may affect family planning policies. While direct interventions like China's one-child policy do not generally emerge from Church influence, the moral and ethical teachings of the Church can sway public opinion and political decisions towards favoring policies that reflect its beliefs on family planning.
Several nations without direct policies to limit fertility rates have still seen a reduction in family size due to other factors such as increased education and economic opportunities for women, advancements in gender equality, and better access to contraception. These indicate that societal changes that indirectly lead to reduced fertility may be more effective and more broadly accepted than policies like the one-child policy, which has been associated with negative outcomes such as female infanticide and social controversy.
Countries struggling with high fertility rates face challenges in meeting the needs of their growing populations, which can put stress on resources and limit opportunities for children and families. Effective family planning education and access to contraception are critical steps in addressing these challenges.