[muir_redwoods]

The Roman priets were allowed to marry for the first 1000 or so years of the church's history. I would think it hard to support a ban that is that far removed from the original model of the church but then no one asked me.

[lightman]

The innovation of mandatory celibacy was documented and condemned in the 22nd Article of the Confession of Augsburg, A.D. 1530:

http://www.bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.html#article23

The most pertinent part follows:

10] It is also evident that in the ancient Church priests were married men. 11] For Paul says, 1 Tim. 3, 2, that a bishop should be chosen who is the husband of one wife. 12] And in Germany, four hundred years ago for the first time, the priests were violently compelled to lead a single life, who indeed offered such resistance that the Archbishop of Mayence, when about to publish the Pope's decree concerning this matter, was almost killed in the tumult raised by the enraged priests. 13] And so harsh was the dealing in the matter that not only were marriages forbidden for the future, but also existing marriages were torn asunder, contrary to all laws, divine and human, contrary even to the Canons themselves, made not only by the Popes, but by most celebrated Synods. [Moreover, many God-fearing and intelligent people in high station are known frequently to have expressed misgivings that such enforced celibacy and depriving men of marriage (which God Himself has instituted and left free to men) has never produced any good results, but has brought on many great and evil vices and much iniquity.]

Also worth reading : http://www.bookofconcord.org/augsburgdefense/22_marriage.html

[wideawake]

The Roman priets were allowed to marry for the first 1000 or so years of the church's history.

You are badly mistaken.

Priests were never allowed to marry. Men who were already married were allowed to become priests, but no one who was unmarried when he was ordained was ever allowed to marry after his ordination.

This is true even among the Eastern Orthodox, the vast majority of whose clergy is married.

The Roman discipline of selecting only unmarried men for the priesthood was formalized as a law in the year 303 at the Council of Elvira - and the practice in Latin Christianity at that time was already one in which married men who received ordination lived in complete chastity after their ordination.

Bad priests often continued to surreptitiously take concubines, but this practice was always contrary to Church law.

[vox_freedom]

The Roman priets were allowed to marry for the first 1000 or so years...
This is a myth as is the myth that being married would somehow bring closure to sexual abuse.

The truth is that the Church's obligation of celibacy goes back to the apostles in an “unbroken” line. And the motivation for celibacy was the closer following of Jesus Christ, who required his apostles to leave wife and family, to become soley "married" to Him and His church.

[patton]

Yep. My g'grandaddy was a bishop! (not kidding)