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In my opinion, not only should the priesthood be opened to men who are married, but married permanent deacons should be considered for ordination as priests if they want it. Also, those men who left the priesthood over marriage should be invited to return and their marriages regularized (as long as they're not married to a divorced person w/o an annulment.) This would provide a large jump in the number of active priests in the West.

You are operating under the assumption that the liberal bishops actually want to have "a large jump in the number of active priests in the West." This is a naive view.

The "shortage" of priests we have is largely by design. Seminaries have been turned over to feminist agitator nuns who have an agenda of "priestesses" to support. Conservative, orthodox young men are routinely screened out before admittance as "too rigid" to be good pastors. Those who lie their way in, often find themselves persecuted for such sins as Eucharitic Adoration or, again, "rigidity" in adhering to Church Dogma.

The solution is not to open up the priesthood to those who left it because of sexual desire, but to pray for a Pope who will clean out the decaying corpus of the "Spirit of Vatican II"

The solution is not to open up the priesthood to those who left it because of sexual desire, but to pray for a Pope who will clean out the decaying corpus of the "Spirit of Vatican II"

Should the Church exclude those men who indulge their sexual desire but are welcomed into the priesthood after conversion from Anglicanism?

Should there be any bending of celibacy whatsoever?

I also think there is some "design" behind the increasing decadence of the American Catholic Church - although I don't know the how or wherefore. I have been increasingly dismayed by the sloppily celebrated Masses (with little girl altar boys running around dropping the Host and spilling wine) that always culminate in EVERYONE going up to receive communion - although no one has been to Confession.

People in this forum keep referring to archaic institutions like "nunneries," and using words like "rigid" to describe the Church. There are NO nunneries. Nuns live in sorority-like houses, wear jeans and engage in social work. They have more freedom now than ever. I believe the wrong people are being recruited into the Church - not turned into perverts by RC rigidity.

One other thing, before I lay down with a cold cloth across my forehead: if you want to see "rigidity", go visit a Parisian Catholic Church. You will see secluded nuns (you can peek at them through a grill) dressed in starched habits, literally singing God's praises while accompanying themselves on musical instruments. Most would think they lead miserable lives - except for the serenity written so clearly on their faces.

Please forgive this rant!!