correct. And I assume it did so as well. It is interesting though, that scripture never speaks of the wives of the apostles. It is not known if the wives of any of the apostles were alive at the time they were called to ministry, nor any of the bishops. It is ambiguous if it was understood that none could currently be married, or if they were permitted to have once been married but never divorced.
Another practical matter would be martyrdom. How does a priest willingly lay down his life for the Church, when he knows that means he will leave behind a wife, possibly children who will have had no means of care? This could also be a reason why remaining celibate would have been preferable. How does one lay down his life while watching his wife be tortured? raped? his children? Since God made man, He knows man is weak in the face of watching his woman or child being tortured just so he will renounce his faith instead of being martyred, I would think?
Not a particularly strong argument.
All Christians, not just priests, are called to lay down their lives willingly for God if necessary.
Good points.
Frankly, if a man is a fornicator, he’s not suited for any ministry position, in any church worthy of the name. The issue of his being a priest is peripheral to the issue of his simply being a creep.