Jesus on your lips, but grandmother in your bones?

Father Robert Christo, Vicar for Communications for the Diocese of Port of Spain, explained the distinction between personal sin and the lasting effects of family history in a recent reflection. Addressing a question about whether family struggles like alcoholism or violence constitute a curse, Christo noted that while individuals are not morally guilty for the sins of their ancestors, they often inherit the consequences of those actions.

Christo cited Ezekiel 18:20 to emphasize that personal moral responsibility belongs to the individual who sins. He compared this to criminal law, where a child is not convicted of a crime simply because they share a surname with a parent. However, he noted that a relative's actions can leave descendants traumatized, impoverished, or struggling with unhealthy patterns.

While some theologians and exorcists discuss spiritual or generational dimensions of these effects, Christo advised caution with language. He stated that the Church teaches personal responsibility for personal sin and that any alleged generational spiritual effects require careful discernment rather than assuming every family difficulty is an ancestral curse.