[Destro]

That is a stupid argument as much as it is an incorrect argument. Western Catholic clergy were married right up till the middle ages. In fact the Catholic Church forced many preists to give up their wives and turn their children into bastards. Yet it was ok for Eastern Churches? Actually it only became ok for Eastern Catholics when the Vatican began to try and take Orthodox away from the East and allowed married clergy for that purpose. The invention of the Uniate movement had the Vatican revise its marriage stance for clergy when it came to the Eastern churches.

[saradippity]

Destro,your facts are not correct regards the official documents. Although in practice the official position was often ignored.Nonetheless,a preference for celibate priesthood can be traced back to Christ,and very early documents show that even if some were married,they were to be continent.