Wonder what Mahony's "Plan B" is, insofar as his Plan A was blown to smithereens by the Pope's comments yesterday?
BTW, you may wish to read the Zenit post--even the Episcopalians understand your source material on the 'date' of celibacy to be "pseudo-history."
The truth is that there is controversy over when celibacy became a common practice; Gregory VII apparently still had a problem on his hands in the eleventh century because he had to go further than anyone had gone before in nullifying the marriages of ordained priests. This, seven hundred years after celibacy was first "Official" Church policy.
Seems the issue is less and less on the table as time goes on. Yesterday JPII's comments to the Nigerians; today's Zenit article posted by me.
Nobody ever seriously thought that John Paul II would discuss optional celibacy. But, he clearly won't silence those who wish to discuss it.