[a history buff]

The ad hominem attack is unwarranted. And unChristian. As you very well know, or should know, Catholic priests of the Eastern Rites are allowed to marry. So either the Catholic church we both belong to has been taken over by heretics, this would go all the way to the top, since JP 2 holds the Byzantine rite in great respect, or you and your notions on celibacy are more wishful than factual. I personally do not think that JP 2 is a heretic.

The discrepancies between the more liberal European histories of celibacy and the ones you cite are fairly significant. Because, human nature being what it is, both the celibate clergy and the married clergy are disposed to problems, this debate has raged forever, with "permanent decisions" being made both ways. When you only dig up one set of such "decisions" and then deem this to be exhaustive, whatever you're doing is not history, but wishful thinking.

[Catholicguy]

The ad hominem attack is unwarranted. And unChristian.

The facts remain. What the priest asserted is not only documentable but it has been documented. There is nothing "fishy" about what the priest stated. It wasn't "UnChristian." It was funny