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It is time to re-evaluate celibacy in the priesthood given the genesis of the edicts to have celebate priests.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_23_38/ai_85060908

I would also imagine that it must be particularly galling to a celebrate priest who might serve in the same parish as a married priest who may have come over from the Lutherans or Episcopalians.

There is no need to reevaluate celibacy. The arguments for the discipline are well-known, and the weak, self-serving arguments against it are also well-known.

If it bothers a celibate priest to have a married formerly Episcopal or Lutheran colleague, then he needs to think about his lack of charity.

It is time to re-evaluate celibacy in the priesthood given the genesis of the edicts to have celebate priests.

Then I presume you wish to re-evaluate Scripture, also.

St. Paul's letters are explicitly clear on the superiority of the celibate life and this is backed up by the writings of the Church fathers.

I would also imagine that it must be particularly galling to a celebrate priest who might serve in the same parish as a married priest who may have come over from the Lutherans or Episcopalians.

You mean a celibate priest?

Those who embrace celibacy and truly understand its beauty don't envy the married. Trust me. Pope John Paul called the celibate state "the finest jewel of our priesthood", or words conveying that meaning. Your comments betray a lack of understanding of the virgin state and pander to the secular stereotype of the celibate as a frustrated, lonely loser.

On the contrary, I'll bet you that there are a multitude of people who've entered the married state unthinkingly who have an enormous envy of the celibate- including a bunch on this forum.

I would also imagine that it must be particularly galling to a celebrate priest who might serve in the same parish as a married priest who may have come over from the Lutherans or Episcopalians.

This is the appearance of reality from outside the Catholic culture. Inside the realm of grassroots catholicism - from where many priests are recruited - theoretical celibacy is an end in itself - not the means for achieving the sacrament of holy orders. When asked by an Anglican priest why his entire family crossed the Tiber my son answered ( or at least says he said) that the Catholic church held a higher standard for its clergy and it meant more to be a catholic priest than an anglican one - ( in his estimation). This statement was made in 10th grade after 6 years of catholic education and indoctrination. Not Bad at all.

In the orthodox (greek ) Church, only celibate unmarried priests can become bishops etc. All in all, celibacy is pretty creepy at the grass roots level. Married priests communicate more effictively and have a closer bond with their parishoners due to shared life experiences. Celibacy is like emotional foot binding. Some like it - some find it abhorent.