"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."
As do those Eastern Rite Churches which are in communion with Rome.
"The evidence in the East is at best inconclusive either way."
I think I'm safe in saying that we and they probably have a fairly good handle on our own history.
"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."
I didn't think your beef was with Orthodoxy. I just thought it interesting that the Vatican posted this essay on clerical celibacy by Met. Demaskinos on its website, I assume because it presents a fairly balanced view of the history of the discipline in The Church.
Ah, but I claim it just as much as a part of our own history.
In any case, this is just a matter of discipline and the truth of the faith does not stand or fall upon it. But I would point out the illogic of claiming that this is the cause of the priest shortage. This has been the practice in the West for 2000 years, many of which were rich in vocations. The problem must be found in something more recent.