[sinkspur]

Thansk for your very thoughtful reflections. As you can see, you are not going to get much agreement with your careful considerations.

Like you, I don't think admitting married men to the priesthood is THE solution, but it is part of A solution.

The ultimate question we have to ask ourselves is "Is depriving Catholics of the Eucharist worth maintaining mandatory celibacy in the Latin Rite?"

[Tantumergo]

"Like you, I don't think admitting married men to the priesthood is THE solution, but it is part of A solution."

For the sake of argument, let us assume that the Church does indeed revisit this issue if the next Pope is so disposed.

What are the odds of getting a Pope who would consider this? Have you kept any sort of tally of which Cardinal-electors would be in favour of ordaining married men to the priesthood?

I know of only two - Cormac Murphy O'Connor and Keith O'Brien - neither of whom stand a cat in hell's chance of being elected. Do you know of any others, especially from among the papabile?