And elder/bishop (episkopos/presbuteros) is one office, (Titus 1:5-7) and does not constitute a separate class of sacerdotal priests (different word). Rather all believers are priests. (1Pt. 2:5)
And while being single and celibate is certainly a sacrifice (for most) and offers the temporal and advantages 1Cor. 7:7–8; 32–35 expresses, and even more so with the world-changing events of 70AD coming shortly to pass, yet it is still a gift. And even though clerical celibacy is only (changeable) church law, to basically (there are exceptions) requires that all clergy have the gift of celibacy is unScriptural and presumptuous - and is asking for trouble.
While the requirement that a bishop be the husband of one wife, and “having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) may allow some discussion as to whether it wholly excludes a single celibate man, that is to at least be the norm, rather than the opposite as in Rome.
And in which not only must priests normally be celibate - which certainly does not have scriptural warrant or the supposedly required the unanimous of the fathers - but even though married men may now be ordained deacons, yet a married deacon must maintain the celibate state if he is widowed, nor may one marry after ordination.
Note that some RCs attempt to make all the apostles single, but which would require that all their wives all died or left them, which is highly force idea, as marriage was the norm, and they usually followed the father’s lead, and while the apostles did leave “all” (Mk. 10:28) a permanent forsaking would be contrary to the principle state in Mk. 7:10-13 and the requirements of marriage commanded in Mt. 19:1-9; and 1Cor. 7:10,11,16.
And as the word for “wife” is the same as women in 1Cor. 9:5 (”Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?”) then some RCs contend that the apostle’s simply had females ministering to the Apostles as women ministered to Christ (cf. Luke 8:1–3). However, Paul affirms he has such female helpers, (Rm. 16:1,2; Phil. 4:3) and the wording, contrast and scope with their previous state considered renders this a forced (and “private) interpretation. The official RC (NAB) Bible for America has “wife.”
Note that some RCs attempt to make all the apostles single, but which would require that all their wives all died or left them, which is highly force idea, as marriage was the norm, and they usually followed the father’s lead, and while the apostles did leave “all” (Mk. 10:28) a permanent forsaking would be contrary to the principle state in Mk. 7:10-13 and the requirements of marriage commanded in Mt. 19:1-9; and 1Cor. 7:10,11,16.
AMEN!