[Kolokotronis]

You might find this from the Vatican website interesting and informative: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cclergy/documents/rc_con_cclergy_doc_01011993_ortodox_en.html

[Petrosius]

I read the statement and have no difficulty with it. I recognize that priestly celibacy is only a discipline and not dogmatic. I also understand that the Orthodox believe that they are following the original Apostolic tradition. The evidence in the East is at best inconclusive either way. In the West, however, there is clearer evidence of priestly celibacy at least as early as the Patristic period. In the West we equally believe that we are following the original Apostolic tradition.

My beef is not with the Orthodox but those in the West who, ignorant of the historical evidence, posit a late medieval invention for the practice and also allege that it was introduced for purely worldly reasons.

[Polycarp1]

Interesting site.

My beef, as it were is not with celibacy per se but rather the understanding that it must be mandatory for all clergy.
In this I believe the Roman Church, in the legitimate interest of the purity of her ministers, has thrown out the baby with the bathwater so to speak and excluded faithful men for the puzzling reason of their desire for the Sacrament of Marriage.