It's an "ideal" if you want to be a bishop.
The Church is bending at the seams for lack of priests. I'm not sure if relaxing the celibacy rules (meaning that married men could be ordained priests) would make much difference, but it would open the priesthood to mature men who could make a big difference in the life of the Church.
The permanent diaconate is the ONLY vocation that has grown dramatically in the last 25 years: an average of 750 deacons ordained per year, versus 400 priests.
Yes, even wives of deacons have to be committed to the ministry. But, there is no lack of commitment on their part, nor on the part of their deacon husbands.
Men who choose to be celibate could embrace the priesthood, and, if so chosen, the episcopacy. And, the Church could benefit from the perspective of married men, as they do now with the 200 Anglican dispensation priests.
See, the thing is, wives of priests don't really get a husband. Their husband belongs to the parish.
My own experience is this. I worked a lot of hours and we had a lot of kids. Because I was working a lot, we were able to afford a diaper service (pre- disposable diapers), a dishwasher, and if needed, some household help (cleaning ladies, mother's helpers, etc.) Wives of priests wouldn't get any of those benefits, because no matter how long her husband works, he's never going to earn a lot of money.
The permanent deacons I've met have older children. In truth, their wives have been on board with their vocation, but deacons don't have the same level of commitment to their parishes that priests do.
I really, really would like to hear from some of these wives of priests. I wonder how happily married they'd consider themselves?