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Well,here I was waiting for a reply from you and reread my post. It demonstrates why I seldom argue-----I make mistakes and am a lousy proofreader. No wonder you didn't respond with that nutty first sentence. Sorry for thinking unkind thoughts.

What I meant to say,rather than "Peter may well have been married--" was,Peter may well have been widowed". Or maybe you knew what I meant and are still combing through the Gospels looking for evidence that any of the Twelve" were married. It's not there--guaranteed.

Granted - there is no "evidence" either way other than the cultural expectation of the time. To assume that married men are not as good or dedicated as those who claim to be celibate is an insult to many ministers, doctors and others who do good and dedicated work. However, I will admit that a priest who each day celebrates the 6 AM Mass, spends time in the parish school, does funerals, goes out on parish census, makes hospital visits, has organization meetings,works on CCD, does convert instruction and marriage preparation til 10 PM when he joins the other priests for the TV news, has little time for marriage and a family. BUT how many priests do that today. How many even know that that was once the normal routine.