Well I do like getting into the history of it, I have read many books on the topic. I can find no Biblical reason to pursue the policy. And since no less than the Pope himself has stated the policy is not a dogma or a doctrine of the Church, but rather a discipline, and that policy is always subject to change. I think we can at the very least discuss it and consider its merits.
You bring up the point of economics. A good point btw. Is the Church clinging to celibacy because it doesn’t want to pay its priests more? If so, I would think that is rather shallow reason to continue with the policy. And then there is the argument that priests are overworked and have no time for wives and families. In the wake of the pedophile/homosexual priest scandal I find that hard to believe. They seemed to find time to engage in those activities. Further, if we had more priests, they would be less overworked. Marriage and family help balance a person’s life and keep things grounded. Finally, we do in fact have a number of married priests in my archdiocese, and they do just fine from all that I have observed. And so do Orthodox priests I might further add.
Not everyone thinks the married priests are perfect for their assigned jobs. Obviously I am repeating the opinion of those close to the situation.
Marriage and family cannot bring balance to the life of a priest since it is all encompassing, it is a vocation, not just a job. I must know the particularly dedicated type because they hardly get any rest, everyone always wants something from them. As I said, I observe this close up, not from a distance.
As for the scandalous behavior, 80% per cent of that over the fifty years they looked at was by homosexuals. They would not be helped by marrying a woman, it would not be a valid marriage.
Our congregations are much larger than the Orthodox, therefore much more work.
Calling this a 'policy' rather dismisses the Grace that Our Lord gives to those He calls. Virginity is a very high calling, it has always been valued in the Church, it is never valued by pagans.