Describe the organization of Italian groups.

The culture of the family extends into the outside world where protection is necessary, and Italians join groups to fend off other groups and officials. Sometimes membership is not a belligerent action but merely securing the right to be left alone. Sometimes an Italian chooses his own organization to join, but most of the time he is born into a structured group. The largest and oldest organization within Italian society is the Church which also contains many smaller sub groups and factions.