Well, I don't think you've read my post. I've stated that I realize it wasn't around in the early Church. Neither was the Bible. Should we throw the Bible out simply because Jesus Himself didn't physically write it?
And also, you don't seem to be understanding the main point here: The vocation of the priesthood is VOLUNTARY, so no one is forcing them to be celibate.
If you do understand that point, then you are trying to mold the priesthood into what YOU want, and again, as a student of history, you should know that it's not the individual who decides what the Church should believe (or do), it's the other way around. At least historically speaking.
No it is the Catholic Church that has molded the priesthood into what it wants.He(Christ) did not require his apostles to be celibate. This is a manmade teaching based on middle age thinking. Why is ok for a married episcopal priest or an eastern orthodox priest who converts to Catholicism allowed to remain married and still be priest.