Cardinal Sfeir, Patriarch of the Maronite Church, addressed the Synod on this topic last Friday. Here is the media coverage ......
"Cardinal Nasrallah Butros Sfeir warned the Synod of Bishops in Rome on Friday that allowing Roman Catholic priests to marry might resolve the priest shortage but would create new and "equally serious" problems. Married priests have to divert their attention away from their parishes to their wives and children, Sfeir explained, adding that a priest with a family is more difficult to move to a different parish.
Sfeir called celibacy "the precious jewel in the treasure of the Catholic Church" and asked for prayers so the Church can find an "adequate solution" to the priest shortage.
Eastern rite churches follow many Orthodox Christian rituals but are loyal to the Pope. Unlike Roman Catholics, their priests do not have to be celibate, and Sfeir said half of the priests in his diocese are married. In fact, he recounted, "Many Western priests write to us to ask to be incardinated (attached) in a diocese of the Eastern Church with the aim of marrying."
Essentially, the Maronite Church accepts married men to the priesthood but will not transfer them outside of Lebanon. ALL of the Maronite priests serving in the eparchies around the world, are celibate.
So, there is no prohibition it is just not the custom in the U.S. It also references "transferring them out of Lebanon." What about native born Americans, as the Maronite rite continues to grow (which it is showing every evidence of doing) there will naturally come more native Vocations.
Here is an old article talking about the Melkite situation.
http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=3326
I don't believe either of the Eparchies in the U.S. have there own Seminary at present, please correct me if I am wrong.
What is the Vocation rate for the Eparchies (I saw an article in CWR on Latin Rite Diocese)? And is there a "shortage"? The local Parish has Msgr. Lahoud and a Bi-Ritual Jesuit serving it.
Further, has the Maronite Rite ever accepted a married Clergyman through the Pastoral Provision?
I am a firm supporter of the discipline of Celibacy, but have on occasion wondering if a married Priest couldn't fill some of the Diocesan office jobs and peripheral Chaplaincies (i.e. Prison, Hospital etc) that it would be preferable to have a Priest in or so it could free up a Celibate Priest for Parish work.
- Heck the Archdiocese of Boston bought a $687,000 house in a ritzy neighborhood for it's one married Priest, maybe some of the smaller Diocese can't afford them. (Sarcasm intentional)
Try moving a nasty priest who is entrenched in a parish. About the only thing that works is stopping the flow of money.
Not sure why this is a problem with a married man. i.e. Many married men and women in the armed forces are moved around when needed. Same thing with other professions. Not sure why this is a considered by some as an insurmountable problem.