[Petrosius]

Celibacy came about 1000 after the founding of the Church. The first 40 popes at least were married men. Celibacy was introduced in the Middle Ages to combat corruption within the Church.

Completely false. Celibacy was the practice in the Latin church from apostolic times. For more information read The Apostolic Origins of Priestly Celibacy by Fr. Christian Cochini, S.J.

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

I will make it a point to check that book out of the library. It looks interesting. However, for a quick reference, here is what Wikipedia (not that I think that source should always be taken as gospel) has to say about the subject: (under the category of clerical celibacy)

Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries:

“The tenth century is claimed to be the high point of clerical marriage in the Latin communion (Catholic Church). Most rural priests were married and many urban clergy had wives and children....a large number of clergy, not only priests but bishops, openly took wives and begot children to whom they transmitted their benefices (Church property)...”

[Mrs. Don-o]

Well, you're both right. Celibacy itself had New Testament Apostolic origins, but mandatory celibacy for the (Western) clergy wasn't enforced until the 11th century.

Before that, the Western church, like the Eastern, had a mix of married and celibate clergy. My husband's ancestors are McNabbs (sons of the Abbot).

Along the lines of the Cochini book, I understand that even married deacons were expected to vow celibacy before ordination. That was why a deacon could not be ordained without his wife's permission: she had to be in agreement with the voluntary cessation of marital relations.