Now, now. Easy. We know where you are going with that :-).
All in the name of discipline. Stoke of a pen in the hand bearing the right kind of ring could change everything. But they won't unless things get really dire, and I guess overworked priests and priestless parishes and all the other messes aren't dire enough.
Time will tell. They may have to cave before it's over. If enough people screamed loudly enough, it probably could be made to happen. But people like the mystique of a celibate priesthood, I guess. I did, too, until I saw the downside.
Actually, if there were plenty of quality, celibate priests, I'd say leave well enough alone. But . . .
I don't think most Catholics would care, until they were confronted with the fact they had to provide a living wage to a priest's family.
Things don't seem to be so dire in those diocese that have strong adherence to the faith. A great comparison is my own diocese of Lansing with that of next door Saginaw (Michigan).
Lansing is led by a very orthodox Bishop, while the Bishop of Saginaw (or former Bishop...he died recently) was a member of the liberal Catholic group Call to Action (may his soul rest in peace anyway). To my knowledge, there isn't a Church left in that diocese that has Eucharistic adoration. There is a shortage of Priests. Tabernacles are being hidden in back rooms and kneelers are removed when Churches are remodeled. People chat loudly in the Church before, after, and sometimes during Mass with impunity. In many cases I've observed in those parishes when visiting, the Priest was yucking it up with them. All sense of reverence has been lost in the vacuum that is created when liberal Bishops and Priests turns their back on the sense of respect,holiness, and reverence that should be given to our Lord during the Mass, and when He is present in the Tabernacle. Of course they can't get Priests in those diocese; why would anybody even think about it?
Compare that to Lansing, where the Seminaries are turning out many Priests each year. If I remember correctly, I think it was about 20 that were ordained in the diocese last year (in Saginaw, I believe the number was zero). Most of the Churches I've been to have signs at the back of the Church asking for silence and reverence in Church. Two Churches in my direct area have started 24 x 7 perpetual adoratio, which many Churches having adoration at least one day a week.
I belong to a Home School group in this diocese where folks are following the teaching of the Church on contraception, and the sanctity of life (something taught from the pulpit here). One family has 8 children (7 boys), another family 7 boys, yet another has 5 children with 4 boys. I could go on. I'll bet you we end up with 6 or 7 Priests from our small group, because we have followed Church teaching, been open to life, and allowed the Father to bring more Priests into this world. These kids are being taught the teachings of the Church, all of the teachings, at home and at the Church. The main point is that the Church is standing firm on these teachings, and the result is more Catholics actually being aware and practicing what the Church teaches. This is what will save the Church, not changing the rules that have existed for 2000 years to fit current societal expectation and conditions.
There have been many success stories in other diocese noted in Free Republic regarding the number of Seminarians being ordained, and it is clear that in the "liberal" diocese such as Saginaw, the Church is struggling. Seems clear to me what is going on, and what the fix needs to be.
And it has nothing to do with continuing the teaching regarding Priestly celibacy that has stood in the Roman Catholic church for 2000 years, a Church which until recently did not have a shortage of Priests...ever.
Finally, there was some comments in this thread regarding what percentage of Catholics would support married Priests...who cares? Some polls have shown 75% of Catholics don't believe in the Real Presence; there is never a line at confession but long lines at Communion time; and the list goes on. What is right is right, even if only one person (the Pope) adheres to that teaching.