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Very doubtful. There's a very simple problem with married priests that nobody is speaking to: they cost money. A lot of money. The going rate for a married Orthodox priest in the US is $60,000 per year, and they still have a shortage. Catholic priests make between $10,000 and $15,000 per year. You can't support a family on that.

I am a believing Catholic, and I am increasingly convinced that the vocations shortage is artificial. It is created by the quisling pro-homosexual, pro-priestess faction that controls many diocesan chanceries, vocations offices, and seminaries. This faction actively discourages vocations among orthodox Catholic men loyal to Catholic teaching, to Rome, and to the Church, because those men will not advance their agenda. Their ultimate goal is to present to Rome a priestless American church as a fait accompli, with the subtext being, "If you want priests again, ordain women."

I am a believing Catholic, and I am increasingly convinced that the vocations shortage is artificial. It is created by the quisling pro-homosexual, pro-priestess faction that controls many diocesan chanceries, vocations offices, and seminaries. This faction actively discourages vocations among orthodox Catholic men loyal to Catholic teaching, to Rome, and to the Church, because those men will not advance their agenda. Their ultimate goal is to present to Rome a priestless American church as a fait accompli, with the subtext being, "If you want priests again, ordain women."

There's something to that, but the fact is that there aren't that many young men like that, and those that are likely to face family issues, as the tend to be very family-oriented as well. While celibacy means no sex, it also means no children. So the disincentive only increases...especially if his parents are hoping for grandchildren, as most do.

As for the pay issue, an old friend of mine is a "youth minister" (I think his title is) at a large Catholic Church. He's married and has a little girl. He costs them as much as a married priest would.

Another factor in holding onto celibacy is the "we did it, why shouldn't they" factor, that no longstanding organization is immune to.

-Eric

I do believe finances have something to do with celibacy as you've pointed out. Money and property were pretty much the reasons for the Church to demand celibacy on its' priests in the first place. Priests would pass away and leave their money or property to their heirs....which the Church had to put a stop to. I think any research of the history of the Catholic Church will show this to be true, as well as the claim that celibacy promotes a stronger service to God.

But as a practicing Catholic, I cannot in good conscience support celibacy for priests in this modern age. I really do think that married priests would indeed make for a stronger and better Church. Married priests would be able to relate better to their clergy. When I had marital problems several years ago, I saw one priest who was previously married (his wife sadly died of cancer at a young age). I can't even begin to tell you the help he gave me, if for no other reason than the fact that he KNEW what he was talking about through his previous lifes' experience. Would I have received the same counsel from a priest who's never had experience in being in a relationship with a woman? I can't say no for certain, but I'm highly doubtful that I would have.

To me, the entire celibacy issue is one that should have vanished years ago. It serves no place in the modern world. What it's done in fact, is create the climate the Church is facing now.

It's SO TRUE, it's worth repeating,

The vocations shortage is artificial. It is created by the quisling pro-homosexual, pro-priestess faction that controls many diocesan chanceries, vocations offices, and seminaries. This faction actively discourages vocations among orthodox Catholic men loyal to Catholic teaching, to Rome, and to the Church, because those men will not advance their agenda. Their ultimate goal is to present to Rome a priestless American church...