If that were true then the 21 of the 22 Churches sui juris in the Church which already ordain, as a norm, married men, wouldn't have a shortage of Priests.
Priests have never been allowed to lawfully contract marriage and remain Priests. While married men were indeed ordained, they were required to adopt the discipline of lex continentiae and forego a conjugal life.
Your specious, at best, solution comports so well with the teaching of Christ and is indicative of your lack of understanding of the ministerial Priesthood of the ordained.
"Then Jesus said to His disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." Matthew 16:24
Catholics are already notoriously cheap in supporting single Priests. Where do you propose that the money is going to come from to support a married Priest and his family? What if the Priest's wife throws in the towel and wants a divorce? What if she has an affair? What if he has an affair?
Your "easier" solution is no solution whatsoever.
All true. And, since we would expect such a married priest and his wife to be true to Catholic teaching, the parish could expect a large family to support.
Priests have never been allowed to lawfully contract marriage and remain Priests.
You are wrong priests were at one time allowed to be married.
For the first 1200 years of the Church’s existence, priests, bishops and 39 popes were married. 3 Celibacy existed in the first century among hermits and monks, but it was considered an optional, alternative lifestyle. Medieval politics brought about the discipline of mandatory celibacy for priests.
Let’s remember the words of Jesus: “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.” St. Peter, the pope who was closest to Jesus, was married. There are three references in the Gospel about St. Peter’s wife, his mother-in-law and his family. Based on Jewish law and custom, we can safely assume that all of the Apostles, except for young John, were married with families. 4
http://www.rentapriest.com/news-stories.php?storyID=6
Your specious, at best, solution comports so well with the teaching of Christ and is indicative of your lack of understanding of the ministerial Priesthood of the ordained.
Maybe it is you who lack understanding , and I am not so specious.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_aren%27t_Catholic_priests_allowed_to_marry