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And 99% of the advocates of a married priesthood draw zero distinction between an unmarried ordinand and a married ordinand, as if a married man becoming a priest and a priest becoming a married man are equivalent situations, when historically no apostolic branch of Christianity has ever accepted the latter.

Very true. Even the Orthodox require that unmarried priests remain celibate after ordination. That is certainly a constant tradition.

But, let's face facts. The vast majority of young men eventually seek out marriage. Realizing that he would have to marry before seeking out ordination, perhaps a young man would seek a level of maturity before making the decision to marry or remain celibate. Of the 22 seminarians for our diocese, 15 are over 30. If all of these guys are ordained, few will leave.

I'd be in favor of making 30 the minimum age for ordination, or even 35, if the Church is going to continue to insist on mandatory celibacy.

I'd be in favor of making 30 the minimum age for ordination, or even 35, if the Church is going to continue to insist on mandatory celibacy.

Given modern life expectancies, that's not an unreasonable proposal.

Oh stop it. There wouldn't be such a shortage of candidates for the priesthood if the faith was being properly taught at the parish level. The problem is that at the average Liberal Novus Ordo parish the faith is not being transmitted at all. Until this situation is changed, there will continue to be a shortage of men willing to enter into the average Diocesan seminary.

"I'd be in favor of making 30 the minimum age for ordination, or even 35, if the Church is going to continue to insist on mandatory celibacy."

That would be very sensible - the facets of a man's character have come out by that age, and if he has any serious problems they would probably be easier to pick up.