Like you, I grew up Roman Catholic with a celibate priesthood. Ten years ago, I joined a Maronite (Eastern) Catholic Church with no formal switch of rites (not necessary since Catholic is Catholic). In October 2005, speaking to the 11th General Synod Fathers, gathered for their eighth meeting at the Vatican, Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, who is Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites in Lebanon--a Catholic rite which allows for married priests--addressed the issue (of married priests), which has been brought up by many, particularly in light of the U.S. sex abuse scandal, of commonly permitting married priests in the Roman rite. The Cardinal defended the practice of the celibate priesthood and discussed the beauty of the tradition, calling it the "most precious jewel in the treasury of the Catholic Church."
While pointing out that "the Maronite Church admits married priests" and that "half of our diocesan priests are married", the Cardinal Patriarch said that "it must be recognized that if admitting married men resolves one problem, it creates others just as serious."
"A married priest", he said, "has the duty to look after his wife and family, ensuring his children receive a good education and overseeing their entry into society. ... Another difficulty facing a married priest arises if he does not enjoy a good relationship with his parishioners; his bishop cannot transfer him because of the difficulty of transferring his whole family.
It is the policy of the Maronite Church that only celibate priests be allowed to serve in the diaspora (outside of Lebanon). The majority of Maronite parishes in the US are small by comparison to their Latin Rite counterparts. We can barely support a celibate priest, much less a wife and children.
re: married priests. Those are all excellent points to ponder.