Forgive me, but the good Cardinal preaching celibacy while the church is found to be repeatedly covering up the sexual exploits of the clergy is just a tad...ridiculous. The Cardinal and the church need to clean up the log in their eye before they go preaching about the speck in anyone elses.
The Cardinal is not preaching about the "speck in anyone else's" eye. This should not be taken as a denunciation of marriage nor of those who can not embrace the celibate lifestyle. He's not being negative; he's saying something positive.... something very simple; namely renunciation of perfectly legitimate marital relations in order to commit oneself totally to the service of God, is a sign to an unbelieving world.
As Scripture says:
Who said to them: All men take not this word, but they to whom it is given. [12] For there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mother's womb: and there are eunuchs, who were made so by men: and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it."
Matt 19:11-12.
As Scripture says, not everyone can take it. That does not diminish the witness of those who can and do.
The Cardinal's words are not addressed to non-Catholics nor those who are already married. He is the Secretary of the Congregation of the Clergy and his words are addressed primarily to priests and to those who may be considering a priestly vocation. They are words of encouragement.
Would you be complaining as well if he extolled marriage for priests since far more child abuse occurs within marriages than the media hype tells us about the church?