[The_Reader_David]

The Latin church must keep its own council regarding celibacy in its Latin rite. I would point out that the dire circumstance the author envisions of a priest needing to follow his wife's job does not happen in the Orthodox Church (nor I presume in the Eastern rites of the Latin church): The wife of a candidate for ordination must accept formally her husband's obedience to his bishop before the candidate is accepted for ordination. Being a presbytera (or matushka or khouria) is a ministry as well, even though it is the husband who receives ordination.

It would be helpful in your discussions if both sides were really familiar with how the married priesthood in the East actually works in practice.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Do the Eastern priests have an additional job or do the families' live off the priestly stipend?

I am familiar with one Greek Orthodox man who was also a priest in the previous town where I lived. He was a very successful businessman and prominent in the community. I later found out that he was also a priest.

[possum]

The Latin church must keep its own council regarding celibacy in its Latin rite. I would point out that the dire circumstance the author envisions of a priest needing to follow his wife's job does not happen in the Orthodox Church (nor I presume in the Eastern rites of the Latin church): The wife of a candidate for ordination must accept formally her husband's obedience to his bishop before the candidate is accepted for ordination. Being a presbytera (or matushka or khouria) is a ministry as well, even though it is the husband who receives ordination.

It would be helpful in your discussions if both sides were really familiar with how the married priesthood in the East actually works in practice.

If the Latin Rite ever goes back to optional celibacy, the process for prescreening married candidates for ordination would therefore have to take into account the candidate's wife's suitability for her possible ministry. Thanks for weighing in, Reader.

Although it obviously CAN work, I still vote for diversity,(except in the case of married Anglican clergy who come home).