yes, priests could marry until the Middle Ages. (13th century, I believe) Priestly celibacy was imposed as a matter of Discpline. it is not a part of Church Dogma or Doctrine. There is a difference. It was imposed because many priests were not performing their duties, but busy leading married lives. The discpline was imposed to focus men on their vocations exclusively. This was only imposed on the Roman rite of the Catholic Church. Other rites of the Catholic Church: Byzantine for example, continue to have married priests. (also we have married priests who converted from being priests in the Episcopalian and Lutheran denominations). Not ordaining women...this is a matter for doctrine, based on Jesus selecting his 12 Apostles. Not sanctioning gay marriage? Also doctrinal. (see the epistles of St. Paul, and the Book of Leviticus). Doctrine and Dogma are close to impossible to change. Thus, the gnashing and grinding of teeth over not getting female priests is likely to continue to the end of time.
As for corrupt Popes. Yep. there have been dozens. Popes who have used the office for pure political power. And there have been anti-Popes. But the Catholic believes, that even the Papacy is not immune to human corruption. What is immune is the teaching, the faith, the doctrine of the Church. Not coincidentally, those bad popes didn't issue anything of theological significance. We believe the Holy Spirit protected Church teaching from corruption in those cases. We could get an anti-Pope again. We continue to witness corruption in the pedophilia scandals. the church is made up of human beings, as is any church.
We put our faith in
God, in Christ and the Holy Spirit to guide the Church in such troubled times.
I always thought of myself as very anti-Catholic (I went to Jesuit school for 10 years - so I know a LOT about Catholicism and have turned away from it.
You are correct, men are imperfect.
I guess like anything else, love the sinner but hate the sin, I can love the Church and the teachings but hate the corruption and hypocrisy of the men leading it.