The priest shortage is primarily in the west. In the Third World seminaries are full. I still think the Church should start ordaining those married deacons. That is a good point though...how many celibate priests will feel peeved if they start ordaining married men. (this is not already including ex-Lutherans and episcopalians)
Dear brooklyn dave,
Actually, I think the problem is more acute in a lot of Third World countries. In fact, many European countries, as well as the US, have lots more priests per Catholic capita than many South American and African countries.
As well, since Mass attendance is low in the US, and even lower throughout much of Europe, the problem is even less severe in these countries than the raw numbers tend to show.
sitetest
Father Cantelamessa (sp?), the former Popes preacher, has homilized time and again about how celibacy is a GIFT, not a sacrifice. If this be the case, then I should see no reason why a celibate priest would be "peeved" with the consecration of married men to the priesthood. There are many married priests in the Eastern Rite Catholic Church. They don't have this "supposed" animosity between the groups because celibacy has been optional from the beginning. As a married clergy, I often times find it amusing the arguments that are so prevalent in the West when speaking of celibacy, as if supporting married clergy was a liberal hinge-pin towards modernization. One might as well accuse St. Paul of modern liberalism. Married clergy have been in the Church since its beginnings. With all the scandals that have plagued the Latin Rite Church for the last thousand years, one would have to go a long way in assuming married clergy would hurt the church. Simple fact is...there have been, are, and will be married clergy.
PS: As a married clergyman, I am often insulted at the responses good solid Catholics give when they get their hair all up over optional celibacy. But then again, to be Catholic is to be persecuted one way or the other. :^)