[sinkspur]

Not only would it be a violation of Sacred Tradition to blot out a custom decreed for 2,000 years to be absolutely obligatory, but also one must recognize that clerical celibacy is to be seen not merely as of ecclesiastical institution, but part of what is more broadly known in Catholic moral theology as "divine positive law," initiated by Christ and His Apostles. That is, it is not merely disciplinary in nature.

Well, that's traditio.com's opinion. I've never seen any serious theologian claim that mandatory celibacy is part of divine positive law. If it were, there would be no "mitigations" possible.

[justinmartyr]

Probably not, but my point in posting the clip is that "serious theologians" (e.g., St. Jerome) have maintained that celibacy is of Apostolic origin.

Others, admittedly, have disputed this. But without a definitive pronouncement from a Council or the Holy See it is impossible to maintain -- as most participants in the debate nowadays do -- that the issue is merely one of discipline.