You have missed the point. Celibacy is not the issue, especially considering that Protestant churches are having similar shortages and sexual scandals (even if they are not publicized).
The problems are these:
-often, it is seen as a "waste of talent"
-the monetary rewards are few (a special problem for supporting a family)
-parents often pressure young men for grandchildren (especially if he is the only son)
-parents often want their children to be able to care for them in old age; this isn't always a possibility for the clergyman.
The solutions are to pray for more priests and encourage young men that may be suited for ministry to seek it. The problem is that there is little encouragement; so many Catholics want priests and Sacraments and a Mass in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Polish, etc... but they never want to give their sons, nephews, or grandsons to be priests.
Teach young men the faith, without watering it down, without feminizing it, teach them to be holy... the Faith unadulterated will draw men to be priests.
I know this from my own experience. I am currently discerning a vocation to the priesthood, but this never was something that I considered UNTIL I took my Faith seriously. The thought of giving up a chance of having a wife and children is something that I struggled with... but then I think what I'm considering... it's celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom!
Also,I can't understand why Episcopal priests who convert to Catholicism and become Catholic priests are allowed to serve as priests and remain married yet no other priests are.
This is a PRIVILEGE given to these men, because they did not have the opportunity to discern a vocation to the priesthood until after they were married (by virtue of their not being in the Church). If my understanding is correct, someone who is baptized in the Catholic Church and leaves then returns as a former Protestant minister is not given that opportunity.
Nobody has the right to be a priest except for Christ. When He instituted the Sacrament of Holy Orders, he gave men the privilege to share in His Priesthood, and He gave the Church the task of helping men to discern. For this reason, a man cannot say definitively "I have a vocation to the priesthood" unless the Church can substantiate it.
Probably because forum posting is new to me I may be not making myself clearer.
I am just bringing up the fact that the Latin rite excludes married non-celibate clergy but allows it for eastern rite Catholics. I think that the Latin rite should RETURN to the tradition it once held of having a combination of married and celibate clergy.
I just want to make clear I am not for abolishing celibate clergy - and I think it is valuable to consider that Latins once also had married non celibate clergy like the Orthodox and that a return to that tradition by Latins would not be an innovation.