mg, I'm not sure what you mean about mothers - could you perhaps expand on that a bit? The pattern of the eldest son inheriting the family 'seat' (property) and the younger sons going into the church (or the army, depending on suitability) was certainly the tradition among the UK's landed gentry - it's not just a Catholic phenomenon, although it may well be a relevant factor in your theory. Historically speaking though, I don't think the great majority of Irish Catholics were property owners.

Goatfell - Please accept my apologies if I misunderstood any of your earlier posts.

I don't think this abuse problem can be simplified down to easily addressable causes, sadly. The abuse is quite varied in nature, as would appear to be the motivation. Prevention would therefore seem to be a more fruitful way forward than trying to determine 'a cause'. I agree with the preventative measures Joe described many posts ago and it would be good to see the Catholic Church doing this universally as a matter of course, along with a great deal of investigation (from within and without) into all areas of care and education over which they currently preside, not least in less developed areas of the world. I strongly suspect that a lot more has been, and is being 'got away with' than has yet come to light.