Mandatory celibacy is a discipline imposed by the Church.
The Word of God commends celibacy as the best practice for all who can make the sacrifice it requires, for God’s sake.
And the Church has decided that only men inclined to commit to make that sacrifice are to be ordained.
And the same Church has historically made limited exceptions to the discipline for specific reasons in specific settings, but has generally required the celibacy rule.
As the other poster notes, devising practical criteria for the selection of pastoral leaders is a wise exercise of authority - much like when a protestant pastor is selected by a protestant authority based on some set of qualities or criteria it seeks.
That's the essence of the disagreement.
As the other poster notes, devising practical criteria for the selection of pastoral leaders is a wise exercise of authority - much like when a protestant pastor is selected by a protestant authority based on some set of qualities or criteria it seeks.
Most conservative Protestant churches do not base it on pragmatic criteria only unless it's claimed the the Biblical injunctions are pragmatic then it applies. But it always starts with the theological and the pragmatic is included within it.