I take it the question of 'mandatory' celibacy surfaces from time to time. We, and the priest petitioners, already know the pope's unbudging stance on this policy. Why are they rattling their sabres? What do they hope to achieve?
This is a continuation of the Regime of Rembert.
You recall that a week after their 'celibacy' letter came out, another letter was issued calling for a "priests' Union."
There are more than a few radicals within the priesthood in Milwaukee, trained and ordained under the watch of Rembert Weakland, OSB.
Without a tiresome recitation of Rembert's "accomplishments," you need mostly to know that Weakland was directly and indirectly opposed to most ANY initiative or directive from Rome over the past 15 years. He met regularly w/Card. Martini SJ; he was a very close associate of Bugsy Bugnini; and his personal problem, a 'grave disorder,' was manifest in his anti-nomianism, outright disobedience, and subtle distortions of the truth, not to mention his vicious destruction 9r attempted destruction of anyone who got in his way, locally and nationally.
In effect, seminarians and priests of this Archdiocese (as well as many of the Faithful) were led to believe that Milwaukee was the "leader" and Rome was the "follower," (although Milwaukee often followed Chicago, Buffalo, and Albany.)
The letters and organizing efforts now in play simply represent a continuation, except now the Archbishop is not a co-conspirator (the Bishop, Sklba, is still happy to continue on the road away from Rome.)
They expect exactly what they've been led to expect these past 20 years: independence from the Roman Catholic Church's discipline, doctrine, and dogma.