There are more married deacons in the Catholic Church in the USA (around 15,000) than there are priests in religious orders like the Jesuits and the Franciscans (about 14,000).
Any man can make his own choice whether he has a vocation to celibacy or to marriage. If a married man takes all the necessary steps to become a Permanent Deacon, he can preside at Communion services, he can do Baptisms and Marriages, he can bring the Eucharist to the sick and homebound, he can give people religious counseling and spiritual direction, he can be a prison chaplain or a military chaplain or a hospital chaplain, he can be on the pastoral team for a parish or a chancery officer for the Diocese, he can be a Diocesan Chancellor or a Canon Lawyer or a Tribunal Judge --- and do all of this as a married man.
Just where is the problem?
Some men choose to be celibate like Jesus and St. Paul. This is what they discern they have been called to. I don't see what's wrong with letting them make this choice.
If he can do all this, why relegate him to a position of no advancement within the church, all because he’s married?
Again, absolutely no biblical requirement or command church leaders (priests, bishops/archbishops, cardinals, etc) be celibate.
None. the only thing stated is Paul’s PERSONAL opinion - as he says it is his own opinion - that if you are one of the few that can be celibate and not give into lust, it’s better to remain celibate. But for MOST they cannot do this.
His comments also were also in the context of any Christian, not targeted at church leaders.
Anyway, bye, I’m done.