Sirach 41:6. "The inheritance of the children of sinners will perish, and on their posterity will be a perpetual reproach."

This is like a description of generational curses, which I have been learning more about over the last year or so. They are kind of like original sin - something that the children did not do themselves, but they feel the effect of nevertheless. The sins of past generations affect the world and the people in it (all sin does, to a greater or lesser degree), but they especially affect the families of the greatest sinners. Their children, grandchildren, and so on, are more prone to repeat the sins of their fathers or to feel the separation from God due to those sins and seek out solace in something else, like alcohol, drugs, sex, or any of the other temptations to comfort that the devil will place before them. This is not God punishing innocent children. It is, rather, God warning us that what we do will affect our children. We will leave them an inheritance of reproach if we do not turn away from our sin and repent.

Because of past family sins or curses, it may be difficult for our children to turn back to God, but they can, and usually one comes along who does. When this happens, the child can gain a "reset" for the whole family, even his ancestors who may be in purgatory. God wants to save us and our families. All we have to do is turn from sin, repent, and believe in the Gospel.